UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON JUTE AND JUTE PRODUCTS, 2000 TO MEET AGAIN IN EARLY APRIL TO FINALIZE A NEW INSTRUMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

The United Nations Conference on Jute and Jute Products, 2000, which met under UNCTAD auspices from 27 to 31 March, will hold a second session in Dhaka (Bangladesh), from 6 to 7 April, and on 8 April if needed. The Conference has been convened to prepare a successor agreement to the International Agreement on Jute and Jute Products 1989, which is due to expire on 11 April (see also TAD/INF/2840 to 2842).

The Conference has made progress in preparing the draft text (contained in TD/JUTE.3/L.3) but needs more time to complete its task. According to the President of the Conference, Mr. Li Encheng (China), the current text provides "a good basis" for further work. At a plenary meeting on 31 March, he stressed the significance of maintaining international cooperation on jute and jute products. Especially, where commodities are concerned, such cooperation is crucial for economic and social progress in developing countries.

In a resolution (TD/JUTE.3/4) adopted on 31 March, the Conference stresses the importance of adopting a successor instrument to the existing Agreement, and invites proposals from all UNCTAD members to be considered by the Conference.

In order to ensure wide participation of producing and consumer countries by referring to a successor instrument, the resolution does not prejudge the format of future cooperation. It "calls on all members of UNCTAD having an interest in the production, consumption or trade of jute or jute products to participate actively in the Conference in order to ensure its success".

The Conference will meet in Dhaka just prior to a meeting of the International Jute Council, scheduled for 9 to 10 April.