Secure Economic Growth for SADC
June 2011

New World Bank research shows that a combination of policy barriers are hampering regional trade in both goods and services among Southern African countries, and calls for a new generation of policy reforms to realize "Factory Southern Africa" for securing economic growth, creating jobs, reducing skills gaps and promoting keener competitiveness. Joining ABN to discuss the report's assessment of the SADC is senior economist, Taye Mengistae and Ian Gillson, Senior trade economist both from the World Bank. More >>  

Regional Trade and Growth in Asia and Latin America
November 3, 2010

Latin America is well known as a region that has emphasized regional integration for many years, and this has materialized in several preferential agreements. Yet the intensity of regional trade remains much lower than in other regions. In recent years Latin American exports have benefitted from favorable commodity prices and this has stimulated the intensification of trade links with Asian countries. At the same time, Latin America faces the challenge of increasing imports from Asia, as well as an increasing competition of Asian products in its export markets. This work compares Asia and Latin American regional trade with regard to its composition and its effects over GDP growth. It is argued that the recent Asian experience might be seen as both a model and a challenge to Latin America. More >> 

Millennium Development Goals and Trade
September 2010

Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is a critical part of the World Bank’s overall approach to poverty reduction and long-term economic growth. The World Bank is dedicated to achieving these goals, including effort to expand trade and lower trade costs to help lift the poor out of poverty.
The MDG Goal No. 8, subsets A, B and C, are related to trade. The overall objective is to “develop further an open, rule-based, predictable, nondiscriminatory trading and financial system, and to address the special needs of the least-developed countries, land-locked nations and small-island developing states.” More >>  

(audio interview)
 

Vox Talks with Bernard Hoekman 
June 23, 2010

Bernard Hoekman talks to Viv Davies about the recent Vox eBook on Rebalancing the Global Economy. Drawing from the contributions of the authors, Hoekman discusses why imbalances persist, what can be learned from history and the need for a more collective responsibility in responding to the current problem. Hoekman highlights the importance of supply-side factors as well as the implications of imbalances for developing countries. Regarding the current debate on austerity versus stimulus, Hoekman maintains that the real issue is more about timing and coordination. More >> 

Conference: Growth, Competitiveness and Role of Government Policies
June 16, 2010

This conference brought together some of the leading academics and policymakers to discuss key policy questions - revisiting the current debate on industrial policy and the coordination mechanisms that have been used to enhance trade performance, including export diversification and quality upgrading.

Agenda and Presentations  

(the video consists of 2 parts)
 

Managing Openness: Outward-Oriented Growth Strategies after the Crisis
May 10, 2010

The recent economic crisis has triggered countries worldwide to question the merits of trade liberalization, openness to foreign investment and even the broader phenomenon of globalization. But this juncture also presents an important opportunity for countries to examine existing paradigms of growth, and devise future strategies that will help balance economic growth, development and openness. This seminar featured presentations and a discussion session by leading experts and policymakers on the prospects of managing openness after the crisis.

Agenda and Presentations  

Trade Facilitation Day: Show, Tell and Learn
May 6, 2010

The event showcased knowledge products and tools developed by the International Trade Department’s Trade Facilitation team and promoted substantive information-exchange. The event featured three panel discussions and an interactive session with executive trade representatives from the private, academic and Bank sectors to share knowledge and expertise on how trade facilitation can improve trade competitiveness in low-income countries around the world, particularly landlocked countries.
 Agenda and Presentations  

Trade Facilitation Video Feature: Northern Corridor
May 6, 2010

Following the logistics of a coffee exporter from Kenya (port of Mombasa) and through the border in Kenya/Uganda (Malaba) and to the final clearance in Kampala, the video captures some of the key facilitation issues along the Northern Corridor. The video highlights the benefits of facilitation measures to improve logistics efficiency through programs such as the World Bank’s East Africa Trade and Transport Facilitation Project aimed at improving trade logistics and customs efficiency along the northern corridor, and thereby stimulating economic growth in the region. 

World Bank Launches Trade Strategy Consultations
April 6, 2010

The World Bank Group launched consultations to gather input for a trade strategy, which is expected to be completed in late 2010. The consultations will be part of a broad effort to gather a wide range of views on how the World Bank Group can help developing countries create opportunities for the poor and grow economies sustainably. More information >> 

Global Trade Logistics Improving, but more Needed to Boost Recovery
January 15, 2010

The capacity of countries to efficiently move goods and connect manufacturers and consumers with international markets is improving around the world, but much more is needed to spur faster economic growth and help firms benefit from trade recovery, according to a new World Bank Group survey on trade logistics.
Learn more about Logistics Performance Index >> 

China's Investment in African Industrial Zones: Prospects, Challenges and Opportunities for Africa
January 6, 2010

In this seminar, Professor Deborah Brautigam (author of the The Dragon's Gift: The Real Story of China and Africa) and Tang Xiaoyang, discussed the recent field research assessing these zone projects. They explained the strategy of China's government in launching the projects, discussed the mechanisms for support and cooperation, summarized their current development status, and outlined the main challenges being faced by both African and Chinese partners. 
Papers and Presentations 

CNBC Interview with Bernard Hoekman: WTO Pushes for Cheaper Finance
September 29, 2009

Pascal Lamy, the head of the World Trade Organisation, said financial regulations must be reformed to make trade finance cheaper and more accessible. Prof. Bernard Hoekman, senior director for trade at the World Bank, spoke to CNBC about the outlook.

*Please note that due to the technical difficulties during the recoding process for the first 3 minutes the audio is not available.

Interactive Course: Duty and Tax Relief and Suspension Schemes for Improving Export Competitiveness
September 8, 2009

This was an interactive learning event on the application of various duty and tax relief and suspension schemes for improving export competitiveness. It delivered a comprehensive overview of such schemes and lessons learned from around the world on the administration of fiscal instruments. Learn more about this event >> 

Upgrading Competitiveness in the Time of International Crisis 
April 28, 2009 

From the world’s middle class to the most vulnerable populations, the financial crisis is predicted to affect millions for the next few years. During the event specialists and lead economists discussed a variety of issues ranging from the economic landscape to public finance, economic competitiveness and continued poverty reduction. Learn more about this event >> 

The Impact of the Financial Crisis on Trade Finance
December 18, 2008

The event consisted of an overview of the current global and emerging market conditions for trade finance and  a primer on tools of trade finance, provided an examination of the main forms of trade finance and their usage for non-experts. More >> 

Morning Sessions

Afternoon Sessions

Food and Fuel Price Increase: Implications for Trade and Food Security Policies 
October 2, 2008

In the past few years, food and fuel prices rose sharply, causing millions of people hardship, return into the folds of the poor, and even the risk of premature death. The price increase also prompted policy makers in various importing and exporting countries to adopt a host of policies some of which have actually exacerbated the long term availability and price stability of food. This training course intended to analyze the trade policy responses to the surge in food and fuel prices. In particular, it addressed the price, fiscal, and welfare implications of the most widely adopted border policies, namely slashing of tariffs on imported food and/or export bans and export restrictions.  It also discussed whether the new food price environment warrants countries to rethink the role of trade in their food security strategies. Finally, the course offered the participants interested in data and modeling  a thorough analysis of the sources of data and simple modeling tools to compute the impact of food and fuel price increase on the balance of payments, inflation, and poverty. More >>