"UNCTAD´s primary role, as I see it, is to help bridge the gap between developed and developing countries", said Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary-General of UNCTAD, speaking today from London. "We can help equip the developing world to reap gains from global economic growth".
Dr. Supachai took office yesterday as head of the Geneva-based organization, the UN´s focal point on trade, investment and development issues.
"With world trade rising, especially among developing countries themselves, there is also a clear need for more consensus-building on trade and development issues", he added. "This is another area I plan to emphasize in UNCTAD´s work".
In the trade arena, he said UNCTAD and the WTO, where he served a three-year term as Director-General until 31 August, were "complementary" organizations, each with its own strengths and areas of expertise.
"I would like to see more private-sector involvement in our projects on the ground", he said. "I can also envisage our advising countries on how to make the best use of income gains, how to enhance information-sharing and how to prevent a race to the bottom in the search for new investors".
Dr. Supachai was speaking to journalists in London on UNCTAD´s Trade and Development Report 2005, which cautions against complacency in the light of windfall gains from rising commodity prices in some developing countries. Those profits should be used, the report says, to help diversify their economies.
