APO News from Africa:
New phase for Hub and Spokes trade initiative which aids Africa, Caribbean and Pacific:
An innovative trade initiative which is expanding opportunities for business, employment and prosperity in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries will be extended to February 2019.
The Hub and Spokes programme is a joint initiative of the European Union, ACP Group Secretariat, Commonwealth Secretariat and Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie. Through the programme, trade advisers are placed in government ministries and regional organisations to provide support and build local capacity to develop trade policies.
To kick-start the ambitious next phase of the aid for trade programme, 40 of the programme’s main stakeholders including 16 trade advisers are gathering for a workshop in Bridgetown, Barbados, between 22 and 23 May.
As 2017 is shaping up to be an uncertain year for global trade, the workshop comes at a time when economic and political unpredictability is being felt all across the globe. The two-day event will see participants review the changing trade landscape, exchange best practices and establish a sustainable foundation for the design of national and regional trade policies.
Commenting, Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Deodat Maharaj said the Caribbean workshop presents an ideal opportunity to learn from regional experiences to ensure that developing countries and small and vulnerable states are not left behind.
Mr Maharaj said: “The Hub and Spokes programme is helping countries to use trade as a mechanism to advance human development and create prosperity. It has been an invaluable resource for Commonwealth member countries and in particular for small and capacity-constrained states. The work undertaken by these trade experts is second to none, ensuring that countries can effectively participate in global trade and that trade policies deliver on national development priorities.”
Chekou Oussouman, Head of the Hub and Spokes programme at the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) said: “The long-term technical assistance provided by the programme has given credibility to the partnership between the Commonwealth, OIF, EC [the European Commission] and the ACP Secretariat who have responded to requests from the ACP regions for the deployment of a network of high level advisers on trade policies.
“Beyond the reforms undertaken to make trade a lever for growth and successful structural transformation, several countries and regions have been involved in the ownership of the programme’s efforts and have also contributed to the financing of activities. Thus, the consolidation phase of the programme will enable key structuring activities to be transferred appropriately to the beneficiaries”.
Distributed by APO on behalf of Commonwealth Secretariat.
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Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa
UNAMID calls for restraint amid renewed Darfur clashes:
Fighting has been taking place in the past few days between Government of Sudan forces and non-signatory movements in North and East Darfur, with reports of multiple casualties.
UNAMID’s Joint Special Representative, Jeremiah Mamabolo, said that the Mission was deeply concerned about these developments.
“Significant progress has been made on the road towards peace and security in Darfur, and it would be a serious setback to see these gains jeopardized” said Mr. Mamabolo.
“UNAMID calls on all parties involved in this latest round of fighting to show restraint and use the peace process to resolve all outstanding issues. This is the only course of action that can satisfy the interests of the people of Darfur.”
UNAMID wishes to remind all the parties of their unilateral commitment to a ceasefire which was decided in goodwill with a view to advancing the peace process.
UNAMID personnel in the vicinity of the clashes have been put on high alert. The Mission has dispatched verification patrols and is collecting information by other means from areas mentioned in incoming reports.
Distributed by APO on behalf of African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).
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Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa
U.S. and Egypt Celebrate 70th Anniversary of Fulbright Program:
Expanding educational exchange between Egypt and the United States was the focus of a May 21 event hosted by the Binational Fulbright Commission in Egypt (BFCE) to mark the 70th anniversary of the prestigious Fulbright scholarship program.
The U.S.-funded program began worldwide in 1947 under the initiative of the late Senator William Fulbright, who envisioned the Fulbright program would “bring a little more knowledge, a little more reason, and a little more compassion to world affairs.” Since 1949, the BFCE has awarded study, travel, research and teaching grants to over 6,000 Egyptians and 1,000 Americans.
Minister of Higher Education Dr. Khaled Abdul Ghaffar and U.S. Ambassador Stephen Beecroft congratulated the BFCE staff and its Board of Directors on the 70th anniversary. Ambassador Beecroft noted: “Education is one of Egypt’s highest national priorities, as it is for the United States, and Fulbright is at the very center of the U.S.-Egypt educational relationship. Egyptian Fulbright alumni include ministers, scientists, economists, doctors, lawyers, writers, artists, and experts from virtually every field.”
The Ambassador and the Minister noted that the two countries would continue to partner, both through the Fulbright Commission and outside it, to expand scholarly dialogue and scientific research.
The event concluded with Minister Abdul Ghaffar and BFCE Executive Director Dr. Maggie Nassif participating in a symbolic tree-planting ceremony in the Commission’s garden.
Distributed by APO on behalf of U.S. Embassy – Cairo.
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Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa
