UNCTAD and the Way to Enhance Africa’s Trading Capacity
UNCTAD and the Way to Enhance Africa’s Trading Capacity
with
Mr Felix Mutati
Former Minister of Industry and Trade in Zambia
Mr. Felix Mutati, former Minister of Industry and Trade, is Zambia’s candidate for the position of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Secretary-General.
The greatest challenge Africa faces is its development. Trade presents a real opportunity to confront this challenge. In recognition of this basic fact, a number of bilateral, regional and multilateral interventions have been targeted at enhancing Africa’s capacity to trade. These interventions have come in different forms including preferences, trade facilitation, value addition and diversification programs.
All these interventions are necessary to move Africa towards enhanced trade capacity. However, the underlying central issue is that Africa must, in the first place, have something to trade. Ignoring this basic but important issue has resulted in very low utilisation levels of preferential markets.
Mr Felix Mutati’s biography overview
Prior to his appointment as a Member of Parliament in 2005, he studied accounting at the University of Zambia, graduating in 1981, and later earned his qualifications as a certified chartered accountant in Britain.
He became Deputy Minister of Finance from 2002 to 2004 and Deputy Minister of Trade in 2004. In 2006, he led the Ministry of Energy and Water Development. Since 2007, he has been Minister of Trade, simultaneously holding the position of Vice-Chairman of the Petroleum Committee.