Aid For Trade In Asia And The Pacific

The role of Aid for Trade (AfT) in promoting the growth and tradability of services is important, given that it is a major catalyst for inclusive economic and structural transformation. This report highlights emerging trends in AfT in the context of evolving trade performance in Asia and the Pacific. In particular, the impact of AfT on trade in services, thereby helping increase economic and job opportunities for women, and the rise of e-commerce. The report ends by considering policy implications of the experiences of geographically-challenged economies of the region along the dimensions of trade costs, AfT, trade in services, and the role of the digital economy.

This report highlights emerging trends in Aid for Trade (AfT) and trade performance, and explores them in the context of the theme of the 5th Global Review of AfT: "Reducing Trade Costs for Inclusive, Sustainable Growth." Divided into four chapters, the introduction sets the stage by describing general trends in trade costs, AfT, and inclusiveness; Chapter 2 introduces the idea and opportunities of e-commerce for the region; Chapter 3 analyzes trends in trade costs in Central, East, South, and Southeast Asia; and Chapter 4 offers an in-depth case study of AfT and trade costs in the Pacific.

The formation of a Regional Technical Group (RTG) on Aid for Trade for Asia and the Pacific was a key recommendation to emerge from the Aid for Trade Regional Review Meeting at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) headquarters in Manila in 2007 and the Global Aid for Trade Review Meetings at the World Trade Organization in Geneva in 2007 and 2009. Reflecting the principles of country ownership of Aid for Trade, the RTG operates under the stewardship of RTG co-chairs, representatives of Cambodia and Japan. The RTG comprises members from recipient and donor countries involved in formulating and implementing Aid for Trade policies and development agencies in the region. ADB is a member and serves as the Secretariat to the RTG. The RTG started as a pilot project to provide an informal regional forum for discussing Aid for Trade issues and proposals, sharing good practices, taking stock of available analytical work on Aid for Trade in the region, and building partnerships among actors and stakeholders. It seeks to formulate an integrated approach to operationalize Aid for Trade in the medium term.

This publication explores how international trade is promoting economic empowerment through the increased participation of women and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. It highlights the roles of services and digital connectivity in facilitating diversification and inclusive economic transformation. The report examines recent trends in aid for trade in Asia and the Pacific and how it can do more to boost inclusive growth.

Aid for Trade (AfT) has become a major item on the international trade and development discourse. This is to a large extent in response to concerns expressed by developing countries and economies in transition with regard to their capacities to implement trade agreements, especially WTO agreements, and undertake necessary adjustments to increase net development gains from emerging trade opportunities. In this World Report, major UN agencies active in development cooperation and longstanding providers of trade-related technical assistance and capacity building discuss ways to sustain the momentum towards the operationalization and implementation of the AfT initiative and the supportive role to be played by the UN system. This is consistent with UN's role in promoting development and helping to achieve poverty reduction, as committed in the Millennium Declaration and the 2005 World Summit Outcome. The Report should be of particular interest to government officials, officials of regional organizations, representatives of the private sector dealing with trade agreements and negotiations, civil society and academia. Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary-General of UNCTAD Lakshmi Puri is Acting Deputy Secretary-General and Director of the Division on International Trade and Services, and Commodities at UNCTAD in Geneva. Philippe De Lombaerde is Associate Director of United Nations University (UNU-CRIS) in Bruges. In collaboration with: UNCTAD, ECA, ECLAC, ESCAP, ESCWA, UNECE, UNIDO, UNDP, UNEP

This edition focuses on trade connectivity, which is critical for inclusiveness and sustainable development. Physical connectivity enables the movement of goods and services to local, regional and global markets.