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Report of the Panel of Eminent Persons: Enhancing the development role and impact of UNCTAD

Preface by Supachai Panitchpakdi
Secretary-General of UNCTAD
 
In October 2005, I established the Panel of Eminent Persons to advise me, in the personal capacity of its members, on how to enhance the development role and impact of UNCTAD. The Panel looked at what strategies UNCTAD could follow in order to fulfil its development mission and mandates as contained in the Bangkok Plan of Action and the São Paulo Consensus.
 
I am pleased to share the report of the Panel with member States. I welcome this valuable contribution to the process of revitalizing UNCTAD. I am convinced it will be of great benefit to the organization. The report is thoughtful and innovative. It also offers a number of pragmatic proposals aimed at strengthening the functioning of UNCTAD. It is my sincere hope that member States will carefully consider the report, which is also being reviewed in the secretariat. I will work closely with our member States with a view to enhancing the development role and impact of UNCTAD.
 
I would like to express my gratitude to the Chair and the members of the Panel for the wisdom and dedication they brought to this task. Through their work, they have made an invaluable contribution to the future of UNCTAD and to the development cause more generally. My appreciation also extends to the senior aides of the Eminent Persons and the secretariat staff who provided substantive backstopping to their work.
 
I look forward to continuing the relationship with the Panel for the benefit of UNCTAD and the development cause.