High Level Meeting on Trade Capacity Building and Competition Policy for African Least Developed Countries

10-12 May 2010, Lusaka, Zambia

The High Level Meeting on trade capacity-building and competition policy for African LDCs was held in Lusaka on 10-12 May 2010. India’s trade support for African LDCs was the theme of discussion on 11 May 2010. Detailed presentations were made on India’s duty free tariff preference scheme for LDCs, enhancing business linkages between India and African LDCs, success story of UNCTAD’s India project and producing more from less resources. African LDCs welcomed the scheme as a concrete example of South-South trade and economic cooperation, and solidarity with development of Africa. These countries suggested that the scheme be complemented with aid for trade support in increasing Indian  investment into African LDCs in building up productive capacity and adding value to products that can be exported to India and ultimately improve the trade balance between the two partners. In this regard, they welcomed the commitment of the Government of India and the private sectors to strengthen investment, and capacity-building in African LDCs to take advantage of India’s duty-free quota-free scheme.