HE Ms Rosalie Koudougueret-Mologbama

This interview, which was conducted during the course of the first review of the Central African Republic’s (CAR) trade policy, gave HE Ms Rosalie Koudougueret-Mologbama an opportunity to draw certain conclusions, to consider some of the constraints standing in the way of CAR’s integration into the multilateral trading system, and to explain the efforts undertaken by her country to overcome these obstacles.

Trade Policy Review

This exercise in transparency is important in that it permits the identification of certain shortcomings, particularly with regard to CAR’s commitments at the WTO. The national authorities will seek to remedy the situation, and thereby to set CAR’s trade policy on the right course. The same applies to the reformulation of the legal and regulatory framework, as well as to the notification of laws and regulations to the WTO.

CAR and the Multilateral Trading System

The review of the country’s trade policy highlighted the weakness of CAR’s participation in the multilateral trading system. This situation is the result of a combination of difficulties of which the Central African authorities are well aware and which they wish to remedy with the help of their development partners. The Minister said that the authorities were fully committed to the task and she called upon all CAR’s partners to continue providing their support to her country. She spoke of a large number of trade-related technical assistance needs, and more specifically: the implementation of trade agreements, trade policy formulation, the dismantling of supply constraints, the integration of trade policies into development strategies and, finally, participation in the WTO’s regular activities.

On this latter point, the lack of a permanent representation in Geneva does put CAR at a real disadvantage. This may explain why the country was unable to play any meaningful role in the current negotiations, primarily in the field of trade and development activities. Although it is true that AITIC’s Non-Resident Unit can help overcome many of these shortcomings, an effective presence in Geneva is nevertheless considered essential.

Integrated Framework

CAR submitted its official request to be included in the Integrated Framework (IF) on 2 August 2004. On 17 February 2006, that request was favourably received by the IF Steering Committee which asked the World Bank to carry out a Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS). Five priority areas were identified: strengthening of productive capacities, promotion of the private sector, financing of trade-related activities, and the strengthening of institutional and human resource capacities. Within the context of the finalisation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper(PRSP), the aim is to achieve a better design of trade policy and the DTIS.

Defining Moment in her Career

According to HE Ms Koudougueret-Mologbama, the 11 June 2007, which was the first day of CAR’s trade policy review, was now etched into her memory for both personal and professional reasons. She said it represented the culmination of a process that was initiated a year earlier after she was appointed Minister. The importance of this first review of the country’s trade policy is all the greater as it has focussed attention on the country’s determined struggle to combat poverty.

At the end of the interview, HE Ms Koudougueret-Mologbama thanked the multilateral partners and the WTO on behalf of the Central African government for all the support that was given throughout the preparation and the presentation of the review of CAR’s trade policy. She also reiterated the commitment of the Ministers in Doha to make the current negotiating round a development round, and underlined the importance for CAR in particular, and the LDCs in general, of bringing the negotiations to a successful conclusion.