UNU-AERC conference on Asia and Africa in the Global Economy
The United Nations University Headquarters, Tokyo, Japan, 3-4 August 1998
Workshop Overview
The Conference on Asia and Africa in the Global Economy was held on 3-4 August 1998 at the United Nations University (UNU) Headquarters in Tokyo. This conference was jointly organised by the UNU and African Economic Research Consortium (AERC). To our knowledge this was the first time that an African research organisation has co-organised a conference in Tokyo. Twelve research papers were presented and discussed. In addition to researchers from Asia and Africa, representatives from UNDP, ECA, IMF, Asian Development Bank Institute and UNOSCAL participated in the conference. The Government of Japan supported the conference through the Special Unit / Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
Agenda
Day 1 (3 August 1998)Session I - Introduction and Overview
1. Introduction to Project
Julius Court, UNU
2. Dynamics of Globalization
Laurence Harris, SOAS, University of London
Session II - Framework
3. Economic Policies in SE Asia and sub-Saharan Africa
Machiko Nissanke (SOAS) and Ernest Aryeetey (University of Ghana)
4. Institutional Foundations in SE Asia and sub-Saharan Africa
Beatrice Weder, University of Basle
Session III A - Resource Exports and Resource-processing for Export
5. Resource Exports and Resource-processing for Export in SE Asia
Jomo Sundaram, University of Malaya
6. Resource Exports and Resource-processing for Export in Saharan Africa
William Lyakurwa, Director of Training, AERC
Session III B - Export oriented industrialisation and FDI
7. Export oriented industrialisation and FDI in SE Asia
Thee Kian Wie, The Indonesian Institute of Sciences
8. Export oriented industrialisation and FDI in sub-Saharan Africa
Charles Soludo, University of Nigeria
Day 2 (4 August 1998)
Session III C - Financial Flows
9. Management of Financial Flows in SE Asia
Pakorn Vichyanond, TDRI, Thailand
10. Management of Financial Flows in sub-Saharan Africa
Lemma Senbet, University of Maryland
Session III D - Foreign Aid, Debt and Development
11. Foreign Aid, Debt and Development in SE Asia
Haider Khan, Asian Development Bank
12. Foreign Aid, Debt and Development in sub-Saharan Africa
Sam Wangwe, ESRF, Tanzania
Discussants: Yasutami Shimomura
Main Achievements
First, the conference facilitated a direct exchange of knowledge and experiences between Asian and African researchers. Until recently contacts between the two regions has been relatively limited and largely confined to the government level.Second, this was the first time, to our knowledge, that an African research organisation has co-organised a conference in Tokyo. The conference provided a high profile opportunity for African researchers to present and discuss their work in Japan and also to network with Japanese scholars interested in African development.
Third, the papers presented and discussions enabled the meeting to undertake a systematic comparison of the experiences of the two regions specifically focusing on expanding and upgrading linkages with the global economy.
Fourth, the conference generated policy recommendations for African governments, thereby achieving its main objective. The conference focused on the economic policies and the institutional foundations for expanding and upgrading linkages with the global economy (see policy brief and section below for further details).
Fifth, the project was designed to contribute to the Second Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD II). The policy brief was given to the participants at TICAD II. The UNU Rector also made extensive reference to the project in his speech at the TICAD II plenary. The project outline was included in the Annex of the Agenda for Action.
| For further information please contact: | |
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Julius Court, Programme Coordinator United Nations University Hq., 53-70 Jingumae 5 chome, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-8925, Japan Tel: +(81-3) 3499-2811 | Fax: +(81-3) 3499-2828 | Email: court@hq.unu.edu | |
