The General Assembly,
Recalling the document entitled "A New Partnership
for Development: The Cartagena Commitment", adopted by the
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development at its eighth
session, in which, inter alia, was launched the concept of trade
efficiency and the process leading to the United Nations International
Symposium on Trade Efficiency,
Recalling further its resolution 47/183 of 22 December
1992, entitled "Eighth session of the United Nations Conference
on Trade and Development", in which it endorsed the convening
of a United Nations international symposium on trade efficiency,
Considering that the outcome of the United Nations International
Symposium on Trade Efficiency held at Columbus, Ohio, United States
of America, from 17 to 21 October 1994, is a concrete and practical
contribution to the development objectives and efforts of the
United Nations,
Stressing the importance of trade as a major instrument
of economic growth and sustainable development for all countries,
in particular developing countries and the need to find solutions
to microeconomic issues of international trade which can significantly
contribute to more open, dynamic and efficient trade relations,
Conscious of the significant importance information technology
and the application of efficient trading practices will have in
the coming years in enhancing the competitiveness of countries
and enterprises through the use of electronic trade,
Noting the valuable contribution made by various organizations
from within and outside the United Nations system, and in particular
by Working Party IV of the Economic Commission for Europe, to
the successful conclusion of the Symposium,
Reaffirming the need to give priority attention to the
problems facing the developing countries, in particular the least
developed countries, and encouraging all developing countries
to continue to be active participants in international trade affairs
and to adopt proved and successful business methods and techniques,
1. Expresses its deep gratitude to the Government and the
people of the United States of America, as well as to the city
of Columbus, Ohio, for hosting the United Nations International
Symposium on Trade Efficiency, for the hospitality extended to
the participants and for the facilities made available to the
Symposium;
2. Welcomes the adoption of the Columbus Ministerial Declaration
on Trade Efficiency, embodying a policy framework and a set of
practical actions and recommendations for more efficient trade
worldwide, which can generate substantial benefits to all countries;
3. Also welcomes the official launching of the Global Trade
Point Network, which, by electronically interconnecting trade
points worldwide, will allow all member countries to trade more
efficiently with each other and assist those that have so far
remained at the fringe of international trade to participate actively
and profitably in it, in particular the least developed countries
and small and medium-sized enterprises in all countries;
4. Expresses its satisfaction with the high-level participation
in the Symposium and with the innovative procedures introduced
for making the proceedings of the Symposium more dynamic and action-oriented,
including better interaction among the governmental and non-governmental
participants;
5. Invites all States to take an active part in the implementation
of the Declaration and stresses the importance of all actors,
in particular private sector actors, and the close cooperation
between private sector actors and national and local government
authorities for purposes of such implementation;
6. Expresses its appreciation to the United Nations Conference
on Trade and Development for organizing the Symposium, which underscored
the importance of market forces and trade liberalization to achieve
economic development, demonstrated the necessity of combining
policy and practice, fostered increased cooperation among developed
countries, developing countries and economies in transition and
encouraged an open exchange of views on practical, market-oriented
solutions to problems of economic development with all the actors
on trade, both public and private;
7. Encourages the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development to continue its efforts to promote the use of the
global marketplace to support development and the implementation
of the provisions of the Declaration, in particular the establishment
of trade points and their integration in the Global Trade Point
Network, based on open systems and internationally recognized
standards which guarantee equality of access for all countries
to the network of trade points, with the cooperation, as appropriate,
of the private sector and the relevant bodies of the United Nations
system;
8. Stresses the importance of an integrated effort within
the United Nations system in the implementation of the concept
of trade efficiency, and requests the United Nations Conference
on Trade and Development to continue its efforts in the trade
efficiency areas and to do so through close cooperation with relevant
bodies and organizations so as to take full benefit of the synergies
existing among them;
9. Notes the interest of the Trade and Development Board
in considering follow-up action to the United Nations International
Symposium on Trade Efficiency, and expresses its interest in being
apprised of developments in this respect in the context of its
consideration of the agenda item "Trade and development".
92nd plenary meeting
19 December 1994