Trading competitively
Subtitle: trade capacity building in Sub-Saharan Africa
By: by Federico Bonaglia and Kiichiro Fukasaku.
Contributors: Fukasaku, Kiichiro.; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Development Centre.
Series: Development Centre studies; International development; International development (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)
Publisher: OECD
Published: 2002
Place of publication: Paris
Language: eng
Number of pages: 180
Subjects: Africa, Sub-Saharan -- Commercial policy.; Africa, Sub-Saharan -- Commerce.; Mauritius -- Commercial policy.
Description: The trade analysis and firm surveys conducted in several African countries in this study highlight an apparent mismatch between government policies and exporters’ needs in the provision and use of trade support services. While acknowledging the weaknesses of firms in these countries, the study does present evidence confirming the existence of a wide array of policy options for increasing business competitiveness and reducing dependence on primary commodities. Successful upgrading and diversification, however, require not only a right set of macroeconomic and structural policies, but also a substantial change in the policy-making process. A major governance problem undermines the implementation of a successful "business plan" for export diversification in these countries: the lack of involvement of private sector and civil society in policy formulation.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 171-180).