BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a8c9fc8150ac DTSTART:20241113T080000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20241113T080000Z LOCATION:\, Gabon SUMMARY:Gabon national stakeholders validates strategy to boost regional tr ade in forest products and palm oil CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:On 13-14 November 2024\, Gabon’s Ministry of Commerce and Min istry of Agriculture\, Livestock\, Fisheries\, and Food hosted a national workshop in Libreville to review and validate Gabon'\;s national strat egy for promoting green value chains in the context of the African Contine ntal Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The workshop\, organized in collaboration w ith UNCTAD\, brought together 45 participants\, including government offic ials\, private sector leaders\, researchers\, and civil society representa tives.The workshop aimed to refine Gabon’s strategy for promoting sustai nable production and trade practices in three priority sectors: non-timber forest products (NTFPs)\, timber\, and palm oil. These sectors were chose n for their significant economic potential and their ability to integrate Gabon into regional and continental trade while addressing critical climat e challenges.Key Conclusions from the validation workshopNon-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs): Strengthening market promotion and value-added processi ng is vital to unlock Gabon'\;s large potential in sustainable trade i n biodiversity-based products.Timber: Improving access to financing and tr ansitioning to advanced wood processing are key to boosting competitivenes s and sustainability.Palm Oil: Expanding certification processes and align ing production with international standards will increase market access an d sector growth.The project for the inclusion of green initiatives into na tional AfCFTA implementation strategies is a joint initiative led by UNCTA D and UNECA\, implemented in twenty countries from all five African sub-re gions. Its aim is to assist beneficiary countries in the development of gr een value chain strategies to promote intra-African trade and climate resi lience in the context of the AfCFTA. <\;p>\;On 13-14 November 2024\, Gabon’s Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Agriculture\, Livestock\, F isheries\, and Food hosted a national workshop in Libreville to review and validate Gabon'\;s national strategy for promoting green value chains in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The w orkshop\, organized in collaboration with UNCTAD\, brought together 45 par ticipants\, including government officials\, private sector leaders\, rese archers\, and civil society representatives.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;The wor kshop aimed to refine Gabon’s strategy for promoting sustainable product ion and trade practices in three priority sectors: non-timber forest produ cts (NTFPs)\, timber\, and palm oil. These sectors were chosen for their s ignificant economic potential and their ability to integrate Gabon into re gional and continental trade while addressing critical climate challenges. <\;/p>\;<\;h4>\;Key Conclusions from the validation workshop<\;/ h4>\;<\;ul>\;<\;li>\;<\;strong>\;Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs):<\;/strong>\; Strengthening market promotion and value-added p rocessing is vital to unlock Gabon'\;s large potential in sustainable trade in biodiversity-based products.<\;/li>\;<\;li>\;<\;strong& gt\;Timber:<\;/strong>\; Improving access to financing and transitioni ng to advanced wood processing are key to boosting competitiveness and sus tainability.<\;/li>\;<\;li>\;<\;strong>\;Palm Oil:<\;/strong >\; Expanding certification processes and aligning production with inter national standards will increase market access and sector growth.<\;/li& gt\;<\;/ul>\;<\;p>\;The project for the inclusion of green initiat ives into national AfCFTA implementation strategies is a joint initiative led by UNCTAD and UNECA\, implemented in twenty countries from all five Af rican sub-regions. Its aim is to assist beneficiary countries in the devel opment of green value chain strategies to promote intra-African trade and climate resilience in the context of the AfCFTA.<\;br>\;&\;nbsp\;&l t\;/p>\;\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/gabon -national-stakeholders-validates-strategy-boost-regional-trade-forest-prod ucts-and DTSTAMP:20260824T194720Z END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a8c9fc8150c7 DTSTART:20241114T080000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20241114T080000Z LOCATION:\, Gabon SUMMARY:Gabon national stakeholders validates strategy to boost regional tr ade in forest products and palm oil CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:On 13-14 November 2024\, Gabon’s Ministry of Commerce and Min istry of Agriculture\, Livestock\, Fisheries\, and Food hosted a national workshop in Libreville to review and validate Gabon'\;s national strat egy for promoting green value chains in the context of the African Contine ntal Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The workshop\, organized in collaboration w ith UNCTAD\, brought together 45 participants\, including government offic ials\, private sector leaders\, researchers\, and civil society representa tives.The workshop aimed to refine Gabon’s strategy for promoting sustai nable production and trade practices in three priority sectors: non-timber forest products (NTFPs)\, timber\, and palm oil. These sectors were chose n for their significant economic potential and their ability to integrate Gabon into regional and continental trade while addressing critical climat e challenges.Key Conclusions from the validation workshopNon-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs): Strengthening market promotion and value-added processi ng is vital to unlock Gabon'\;s large potential in sustainable trade i n biodiversity-based products.Timber: Improving access to financing and tr ansitioning to advanced wood processing are key to boosting competitivenes s and sustainability.Palm Oil: Expanding certification processes and align ing production with international standards will increase market access an d sector growth.The project for the inclusion of green initiatives into na tional AfCFTA implementation strategies is a joint initiative led by UNCTA D and UNECA\, implemented in twenty countries from all five African sub-re gions. Its aim is to assist beneficiary countries in the development of gr een value chain strategies to promote intra-African trade and climate resi lience in the context of the AfCFTA. <\;p>\;On 13-14 November 2024\, Gabon’s Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Agriculture\, Livestock\, F isheries\, and Food hosted a national workshop in Libreville to review and validate Gabon'\;s national strategy for promoting green value chains in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The w orkshop\, organized in collaboration with UNCTAD\, brought together 45 par ticipants\, including government officials\, private sector leaders\, rese archers\, and civil society representatives.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;The wor kshop aimed to refine Gabon’s strategy for promoting sustainable product ion and trade practices in three priority sectors: non-timber forest produ cts (NTFPs)\, timber\, and palm oil. These sectors were chosen for their s ignificant economic potential and their ability to integrate Gabon into re gional and continental trade while addressing critical climate challenges. <\;/p>\;<\;h4>\;Key Conclusions from the validation workshop<\;/ h4>\;<\;ul>\;<\;li>\;<\;strong>\;Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs):<\;/strong>\; Strengthening market promotion and value-added p rocessing is vital to unlock Gabon'\;s large potential in sustainable trade in biodiversity-based products.<\;/li>\;<\;li>\;<\;strong& gt\;Timber:<\;/strong>\; Improving access to financing and transitioni ng to advanced wood processing are key to boosting competitiveness and sus tainability.<\;/li>\;<\;li>\;<\;strong>\;Palm Oil:<\;/strong >\; Expanding certification processes and aligning production with inter national standards will increase market access and sector growth.<\;/li& gt\;<\;/ul>\;<\;p>\;The project for the inclusion of green initiat ives into national AfCFTA implementation strategies is a joint initiative led by UNCTAD and UNECA\, implemented in twenty countries from all five Af rican sub-regions. Its aim is to assist beneficiary countries in the devel opment of green value chain strategies to promote intra-African trade and climate resilience in the context of the AfCFTA.<\;br>\;&\;nbsp\;&l t\;/p>\;\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/gabon -national-stakeholders-validates-strategy-boost-regional-trade-forest-prod ucts-and DTSTAMP:20260824T194720Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR