Libya

<p>The South Mediterranean region faces a range of economic challenges, including high youth unemployment, reliance on traditional sectors, and uneven economic growth. With 55% of the population under 30 and youth unemployment rates between 30-40%, addressing this issue is critical, especially as many jobs are concentrated in low-productivity sectors.</p><p>Political instability, fragmented regulatory frameworks, and environmental challenges further complicate efforts to build a robust digital economy. Harmonizing regulations with EU standards, enhancing digital skills, and fostering cooperation between public and private sectors are critical for unlocking the region&rsquo;s digital trade potential.</p><p>Recognizing the potential of digital trade to address regional and national challenges and promote development, this project seeks to address these issues on a regional scale, by implementing pilot digital trade initiatives, facilitating dialogue and collaboration among the countries in the region, and laying the groundwork for regulatory convergence with EU standards. Albeit regional in nature, the project will work on strengthening e-commerce and digital trade capacities at national level in 4 targeted countries: Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia. This national level efforts seek to support public and private sector actors in improving framework conditions and realizing the sustainable development potential of e-commerce and digital trade.<a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title="">^{<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->^[1]}</a> The support at national levels is at the same instrumental to identifying and further developing good practices to be shared at regional level and to foster regional exchange on specific issues, including regulatory convergence. The initiatives at national level are thus complemented by regional exchanges and peer-learning, which in turn feeds in and informs back the national efforts. The national and regional dimensions of the project are accordingly complementary and synergetic.</p><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><p><a href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[1] According to the OECD, digital trade refers to &ldquo;all international trade that is digitally ordered and/or digitally delivered (s.&nbsp;</a><a href="https://read.oecd-ilibrary.org/trade/handbook-on-measuring-digital-trad… on Measuring Digital Trade, Second Edition | READ online (oecd-ilibrary.org)</a>, pp.12), whereas e-commerce refers to &ldquo;the sale or purchase of goods or services, conducted over computer networks by methods specifically designed for the purpose of receiving or placing orders (s. <a href="https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/1885800a-en/index.html?itemId=/cont…;

<p>The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) Programme<span>&nbsp;</span>is part of a broader initiative under the ATCMA <span>&nbsp;</span>Programme, with other regional components such as the ECCAS ATCMA<span>&nbsp;</span>, the SADC ATCMA<span>&nbsp;</span> and the ECOWAS ATCMA<span>&nbsp;</span>. It is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The programme aims to enhance trade competitiveness and market access in Eastern and Southern Africa. In line with the AfCFTA, the programme focuses on improving regional competitiveness, integrating economies into continental and global value chains, and promoting sustainable trade between Africa and the EU.</p><p>Key objectives include supporting African countries in meeting international trade standards through improved testing, certification, and accreditation, while maximizing MSMEs&apos; export potential by addressing market access barriers, enhancing value addition, and promoting sustainability and technology transfer. The programme contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals, including economic growth, sustainable industrialization, responsible production, and gender equality.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2016, the establishment of the Arab Countries Trade and Investment Organisations Network (ACTION) under the AfTIAS programme marked a pivotal step towards fostering Arab regional integration. ACTION emerged from the collective ambition of Arab nations to enhance their trade and investment landscape, driven by a mutual commitment to prosperity and interconnectedness within the region.</p><p>Following its formation, ACTION initiated its journey with a key meeting in Dubai. This event was crucial in defining the network&rsquo;s structure and operational guidelines, effectively transforming ACTION from a concept to a functioning entity.</p><p>In 2018, a significant gathering took place in Paris, offering a valuable chance for reflection, reassessment, and revitalization of the network&rsquo;s strategies and direction.</p><p>ACTION stands at a crossroads, poised to redefine its trajectory in an ever-changing global landscape. The Abu Dhabi workshop is not merely a gathering; it is a clarion call for strategic introspection and visionary planning.</p><p>The focus will be on conducting a comprehensive reassessment of the network&rsquo;s current state, identifying areas ripe for innovation and improvement. This exercise is crucial in charting a course that not only addresses the immediate needs of the region but also positions ACTION as a leader in the global trade arena.</p><p>Furthermore, the workshop will emphasize the strengthening of bonds between member TIPOs. In a world where economic fortunes are increasingly intertwined, fostering unity and cohesion within the network is paramount. This reinforced solidarity will be the cornerstone of more effective and impactful regional trade initiatives.</p><p>A significant deliverable of this workshop will be the development of a future roadmap. This roadmap will not just be a strategic document; it will be a manifesto of ACTION&apos;s aspirations and commitments for the coming years. It will outline specific goals, milestones, and initiatives that will propel the network towards new heights of success and influence.</p>

<p>In view of the challenges to the trade of agricultural products in the NENA region, ITC will provide support<strong>&nbsp;to enhance intra-regional trade in selected agricultural value chains by removing obstacles to export, transit and import.</strong></p><p>The main objectives of this initiative are:</p><ul><li>To improve the livelihood of small-scale producers by unleashing new business opportunities through exports to regional markets</li><li>To reduce the cost of agricultural products for populations in NENA countries that are dependent on imports.</li></ul>

<p>The overall objective of the proposed project is to attract investment and promote trade and sustainable industrial and business development at continental level, concretely supporting the AfCFTA Secretariat and the African Union and delivering on the Africa-EU partnership for sustainable growth and jobs.&nbsp;</p><p>The project contributes to this objective by</p><ul><li>identifying trade and investment opportunities along regional value chains with potential at continental scale in Africa, including potential for investment by EU economic operators;</li><li>Strengthening the EU-Africa dialogue on trade and economic integration, informing high-level events such as the upcoming AU-EU Summit and European- African Business Forum (EABF)</li><li>identifying pilot/selected continental value chains that could be targeted for support in the EU 2021-27 aid programming exercise.</li></ul><p>It supports the implementation of the AfCFTA and ITC&apos;s One Trade Africa Initiative.</p>

<p>Increasing the trade transparency in Libya through its inclusion in the EuroMed Trade Helpdesk which provides MSMEs with essential trade intelligence information on markets for 9 countries already - Libya will be the 10th country joining this regional initiative aiming to strengthen trade ties between the European Union and the Mediterranean region.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>