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Patricia Francis : " I want ITC to be a centre

of trade excellence "

Based in Geneva, the Annan (then UN Secretary- met her at ITCs head-quar-
International Trade Centre General) and Pascal Lamy ters where she told us
(ITC) is the joint technical (WTO Director-General) as more about this
co-operation agency of the Executive Director of ITC. organization and her new
UN Conference on Trade Ms Francis has held seve- mlSSIOn.
and Development (UNC- ral important posts in both
TAD) and of the World government and the priva- "First I must say that I am very
Trade Organization (%!VTO) te sector. She has extensi- happy to be here, in Geneva, to
for business aspects of ve management experien- lead this great institution", said
trade development. Its ce in the fields of trade pro- Ms.Francis, " and I am hopeful
main goal is to help deve- motion and technical that with my understanding of
0 loping and transitional assistance to developing both investment and trade issues I
economies to achieve sus- countries. will be able to transfori some of
tainable human develop- The new ITC Executive the services that we cun'ently
offerto big greater impactto the
ment through competitive Director was a former
institutions that we relate to ".
exports. member of Jamaica's
Cabinet Committee for
Ms Fra+icis is also convii'iced tliat
Indeed, at a time when Development, a two-term
slie )ias inheiited of a solid organi-
trade is unanimously reco- President of the World
sation-wliicli fiu'ictions well
gnized as an "avenue for Association of Invest-ment
thanks to "tlie tremendoris people
development", ITC's man- Promotion Agenc-ies

suppoitiiig it"-but she worild
date, carried out in part- (WAIPA) and chaired the
like tliis organization to be even

nership with national, Organization for Economic
more dynamic and to work liard
regional and international Co-operation and Develop-
on a "joined-up" ITC approacli

institutions, is more rele- ment's (OECD) Caribbean witli its paitners to acl'iieve its pro-
vant than ever! Rim Investment Initiative. mise.
In June 2006, Ms Patricia She will head ITC for a per-
Francis, a Jamaican natio- iod of three years. Jean- Slie spent tlie last couple of
nal was appointed by Kofi Paul Hoareau de Montrose mont]'is lool<iiig at tlie institution

8 2 2007 Diva
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