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UNCTAD

marks its 50th

ann iversary

Interview with qukhisa Kituyi

Secretary-General of UNCTAD

Mr Kituyi has had a long and was a very fulfilling time in a chal- meeting in 2016. My responsibility is
impressive career. Not only lenging situation Fulfilment varies to offer efficient, competent leader-
too. The birth of my grandson was ship to all the professionals in or-
has he been an academic, a
another fulfilling moment. There is der to keep the promises of Doha
former Kenyan minister of
no comparison between passing a and what is set out in the approved
trade, but he also has wide-
competitive exam and becoming a work-plan.
ranging experience in trade
grandfather.
negotiations, and in African
The second level of my responsi-
and broader international
The level of international accep- bility is that this is an institution
economic policy and diplo-
tance that was displayed -- at a priding itself on its independent
macy.
particularly difficult time for this analytical work, offering a bold
organization -- when my nomina- view from the perspective of deve-
Some people say, to be the tion was presented to the General loping countries. What is the state
head of UNCTAD one could Assembly of the United Nations of world affairs economically?
not find a better qualified also represents a humbling and What are the challenges for develo-
man. In addition, we may also enriching experience for me. ping countries? What can the inter-
add that -- believe it or not -- national community do to streng-
he speaks fluent Norwegian! Q: You are now at the head then their ability to growthrough inter-
A very nice, modest person of an international economic national integration and engagement?
with a good sense of humour, think-tank. What are your I remain aware of that respon-
here is Mr Kituyi. main objectives for the organi- sibility. We will seek to guard our
zation? analytical independence, but I
try to anchor it in the relevance
There are a number of things. First of the moment. Look at globali-
Q: You have a very impressive of all, as the leader of an institution zation. Look at the uncertainty of the
curriculum vitae. What has that is fifty years old, the core res- financial markets after the recent
given you the most satisfaction? ponsibility is how to make the orga- economic troubles, and look at the
nization do better. What has it been significance of the emerging eco-
Satisfaction varies. Passing a com- doing well? What is its core mandate nomies as players in international
petitive examination and being and how can it fulfil this role more trade and in economic diplomacy.
admitted to a very prestigious high efficiently? There is a ministerial In this context, what is the nar-
school was a very fulfilling moment. conference that sets out our man- rative? What is the meaning for
At another level, I think the three date and gives us our terms of refe- developing countries at the macro-
years I served as the Chairman of rence for the next four years. The economic level?
African Ministers of Trade and the thirteenth UNCTAD Conference,
Working Group on Sustainable which was held in Doha in 2012, At another level, during its fifty
Consumption and Production of set out clearly what the organi- years, and particularly over the last
the Nordic Council of Ministers zation has to accomplish for its next thirty years, UNCTAD has created

10 International