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Jamaican Expert to Aid Developing Country Exports

Published: Fri 18 Nov 2005 10:01 AM
Jamaican Trade Expert to Head UN Agency Aiding Developing Countries’ Exports
New York, Nov 17 2005 1:00PM
A veteran Jamaican trade expert, Patricia Francis, has been named new Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC), a United Nations technical cooperation agency whose mission is to help to promote exports of developing countries and countries in transition.
The three-year appointment, effective from next June, was made by Secretary-General Kofi Annan and UN World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Pascal Lamy. The ITC is a joint agency of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and WTO.
“Patricia Francis will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to ITC. I look forward to working closely with her to further the interests of developing countries,” Mr. Lamy said.
“Ms. Francis´s many years of work on the development dimension of trade and investment, both for her own country and for other developing nations, will be invaluable for ITC,” UNCTAD Secretary-General Supachai Panitchpakdi added.
Ms. Francis has extensive management experience in the fields of trade promotion and technical assistance to developing countries. She has held several important posts in both government and the private sector.
She served as president of JAMPRO, Jamaica Promotions Corporation, for the past 10 years, and was formerly president of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies. She has worked with ITC to develop a national export strategy for Jamaica. Ms. Francis was chair of the China-Caribbean Business Forum, and served as a management consultant advised Latin American and Caribbean countries.
“I am delighted that Patricia Francis has agreed to lead ITC in its quest for new heights in helping the poor benefit from trade,” current ITC head J. Denis Bélisle said. “Her drive, vision and unique background in trade and investment promotion will be a real asset for the organization and its clients.”
ENDS

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