Ban visits Finland, Switzerland with trade top of agenda

Accra, July 12, GNA - Sustainable development and global trade will be the focus of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's visit to Finland and Switzerland later this week, his spokesperson has announced. On Friday, Mr. Ban will meet with President Tarja Halonen of Finland, spokesperson Martin Nesirky told reporters in New York.

A statement issued by the United Nations Information Centre in Accra o= n Tuesday said they would participate in a panel discussion about sustainable development in Suomi Areena, during which they would discuss the role of th= e UN in advancing the goals of sustainable development. The discussions come as preparations continue for the Fourth UN Conference on Sustainable Development, or Rio+20, which will be held in the Brazilian City in June 2012.

The statement said after visiting Finland, the Secretary-General would travel to Geneva, where he would meet with President Micheline Calmy-Rey of Switzerland and attend the Third Global Aid for Trade Review of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Aid for Trade aims to help developing countries, particularly least developed countries, develop the trade-related skills and infrastructure that is needed to implement and benefit from WTO agreements and to expand their trade.

The two-day review, which begins on July 18, will provide an overview of what is 96 and is not 96 happening in the delivery of Aid for Trade, including current flows, existing gaps, and where improvements need to be made.