The Independent (UK): LETTER: Historic opportunity to boost trade and the fortunes of Africa: “Sir: We represent a coalition of 70 businesses and business organisations from Africa and across the world, committed to supporting growth and poverty reduction in Africa.”: “KOOSUM KALYAN, SENIOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR, SHELL UK”: Posted Sunday November 20, 2005

Sir: We represent a coalition of 70 businesses and business organisations from Africa and across the world, committed to supporting growth and poverty reduction in Africa. We believe that the Hong Kong meeting of the World Trade Organisation is a historic opportunity. Trade has the potential to be a powerful engine for Africa's development but only, in our view, if action is taken on three areas " an end to agricultural subsidies, increased access to developed country markets and support for improving Africa's capacity to trade.

Developed countries must make it easier for developing countries to export to their markets by improving market access through reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers, and providing duty-free and quota-free access for all products exported from least developed countries. Emerging economies must also play their part in opening their markets, in an appropriate manner, to least developed countries.

Agriculture plays a crucial role in sub-Saharan Africa and accelerating growth in agriculture is critical to sustainable development and poverty reduction. In comparison, agriculture plays a minor role in the economies of developed countries " yet northern governments spend billions on unsustainable agricultural subsidies every year. Developed countries must end agricultural export subsidies by 2010 and substantially reduce tariffs against developing country agricultural exports.

But the benefits of a balanced trade regime will not be realised if Africa's capacity to trade is not vastly improved. The developed world must support, through additional donor funding and technical support, African-owned strategies to build Africa's capacity to trade. These strategies focus on a mix of better infrastructure, a vibrant private sector, reducing internal barriers to improve South-South and intra-African trade and more diversified economies.

Political leaders in the developed countries need to make the case that substantial reform of agricultural subsidies, away from intensive, large- scale production, would be good for their citizens, good for small farmers in their own countries, good for taxpayers, good for the environment, good for developing countries and good for business.

Developed countries have to eliminate policies that undermine growth in developing countries. Such policies are both anti-poor and anti-business. We all stand to prosper from a more stable global trading system. It is in the self-interest of developed countries, as well as developing countries, to make the rules-based system work. Failure would be unforgivable

EDWARD BICKHAM, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, ANGLO AMERICAN PLC; PETER BREW, DIRECTOR, CORPORATE POLICY AND PRACTICES, PRINCE OF WALES INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LEADERS FORUM; SIMON GILBERT, MANAGER, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, THE DE BEERS GROUP; GEOFFREY BUSH, DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP, DIAGEO; SUE CLARK, CORPORATE AFFAIRS DIRECTOR, SABMILLER PLC; KOOSUM KALYAN, SENIOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR, SHELL UK; RICHARD MORGAN, CORPORATE RELATIONS ADVISER, UNILEVER; BUSINESS ACTION FOR AFRICA, LONDON NW1

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