Further structural reforms would help to improve economic performance

Senegal’s economic growth has been mainly attributable to the expansion in telecommunications and transport services together with construction, boosted by the relatively large flow of public and private investment. Niger’s economic performance is still determined by the outcome of its harvests, much of its economic activities being agricultural, including livestock breeding.

The report notes the efforts undertaken by both countries for economic integration in the frames of WAEMU (West African Economic and Monetary Union) and ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States). Nonetheless, considerable structural problems, including supply-side constraints and limited diversification, still impede the economic development of Niger and Senegal.

The report also underlines the importance of external aid and technical assistance to enable the two countries to strengthen their WTO commitments, take greater advantage of their participation in the multilateral trading system and support their strategy aimed at achieving the Millennium Development Goals in particular the reduction of poverty.

The report, along with policy statements by the Governments of Niger and Senegal, will be the basis for the second Trade Policy Review (TPR) of Niger and the third of Senegal by the Trade Policy Review Body of the WTO on 11 and 13 November 2009.

The following documents are available in MS Word format.

• Secretariat report
  > Contents and summary observations
  > Annex 1 — Niger
  > Annex 2 — Senegal
   
• Government report
    

  

Note  back to top

Trade Policy Reviews are an exercise, mandated in the WTO agreements, in which member countries’ trade and related policies are examined and evaluated at regular intervals. Significant developments that may have an impact on the global trading system are also monitored. For each review, two documents are prepared: a policy statement by the government of the member under review, and a detailed report written independently by the WTO Secretariat. These two documents are then discussed by the WTO’s full membership in the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB). These documents and the proceedings of the TPRB’s meetings are published shortly afterwards.

Print copies of previous TPR publications are available for sale from the WTO Secretariat, Centre William Rappard, 154 rue de Lausanne, 1211 Genève 21 and through the on-line bookshop.

The TPR publications are also available from our co-publisher Bernan Press, 4611-F Assembly Drive, Lanham, MD 20706-4391, United States.

 

Schedule of forthcoming reviews  back to top

Georgia: 8 and 10 December 2009