SPOTLIGHT
Dr. Jaime Moll de Alba is Director of the Department of Programme and Partnership Coordination at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Here, he shares his thoughts on a number of challenges and opportunities including how regional economic integration is increasingly becoming apparent across all sectors, the immense potential of the newly established Africa Continental Free Trade Area, and the anticipated ‘unprecedented decline’ in global manufacturing for the year 2020.
REGIONALLY SPEAKING
THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF CROSS-BORDER INTEGRATION
Regional integration and socio-economic development
people and ideas, regional integration can contribute to countries’ socio- economic development. UNIDO supports its member countries to advance inclusive and sustainable industrial development for poverty reduction and economic growth. As part of this mission, we also support initiatives for greater regional integration. Some of these focus on helping countries and regions participate in global trade by upgrading the capacities of enterprises, promoting linkages and investments, or facilitating technology transfer and skills development. Others focus on enhancing institutional capacities, regulatory
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y facilitating the flow of trade, capital, information, energy,
frameworks and business environments. We deliver our support through specialized technical cooperation projects, policy advice, normative and standard-setting work, and convening activities. In the West Africa region, for instance, UNIDO’s technical assistance is strengthening the regional quality infrastructure and competitiveness of industrial enterprises. The program supports the 15 countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Mauritania, increasing trade and competitiveness of key value chains within the region, contributing to job creation and poverty reduction. Access to energy constitutes a pre- condition for countries and regions to
industrialize, and is vital for economic growth and development. UNIDO supported the establishment of the Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centres, in cooperation with the regional economic communities and organizations, and member states. The centers in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific are instrumental in contributing to economies of scale, and building the necessary capacities to mitigate barriers to the use of renewable energy, and energy efficient investments and markets. As part of our support, we facilitate the institutional and governance arrangements of such platforms, backstop the technical functions, and promote inter-regional cooperation and peer learning among them.
PHOTO: UNIDO
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