TFOC of Canada and ITC join forces to develop trade in Africa.

The Trade Facilitation Office of Canada and ITO signed a Memorandum of Agreement in March 2003 to help African exporters boost their potential, through a five-year, 8 million Canadian dollar (US$ 5 million) programme funded by the Canadian International Development Agency. Called PACT (Programme for Building African Capacity for Trade), this is one of the initiatives under the Canada Fund for Africa, which was announced by the Canadian Prime Minister, Jean Chretien, at the G8 summit in Kananaskis, Canada in June 2002.

With 35 of the world's 49 LDCs located in Africa, the continent stands out in its need for poverty reduction. Trade is increasingly mainstreamed into national development and poverty reduction strategies. In this respect, PACT is a direct...