Trade for Peace

What History Teaches Us

The debate on the relationship between trade and peace is not new. Plutarch's writings tell us that in the 5^th century BC, the famous Greek politician Pericles called a general assembly to discuss recovery from war and “the navigation of the sea, that they might henceforward pass to and from and trade securely and be at peace among themselves”.

 

In the modern times with the world experiencing concurrent crises, the idea of "Trade for Peace" remains more relevant than ever. To fully navigate the role of trade in addressing current global challenges, former WTO Deputy Director General Alan Wolff, is back on the Trade for Peace podcast to discuss the history of trade and peace as well as its relevance in today's context.

Guest:

- Ambassador Alan Wm. Wolff, former Deputy Director-General, World Trade Organization (WTO).

Host:

- Mr. Axel M. Addy, former Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chief Negotiator of Liberia's accession to the WTO.

From Policy to Implementation: Perspectives from Central Asia

Central Asia is a region known historically as a major trade hub along the ancient Silk Road, connecting major markets in China, India, Russia and Europe. Its strategic location gives rise to significant geopolitical challenges in trade and security. How are trade policies being implemented on the ground to promote peace and security? How can public-private partnership be leveraged to promote resilience?

To help answer these questions, this episode features Mr. Dilshod Akbarov, Project Manager of Aid for Trade, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for Central Asia, and Mr. Bakhtiyor Shodiev, Managing Partner and Co-founder of Jahon Exim Group LLC, Uzbekistan, who share with the audience their experiences and insights from the policy level and the ground. Jahon Exim Group LLC is a producer and exporter of dried fruits in Uzbekistan, and is one of the SMEs engaged in the regional partnership platform – ‘Central Asian Working Group on Export Promotion of Agricultural Produce’ (CAWG) a joint project between UNDP, UNECE, GIZ and Hilfswerk International.

 

Guests:

• Dilshod Akbarov, Project Manager of Aid for Trade at UNDP for Central Asia, and
• Bakhtiyor Shodiev, Managing Partner and co-founder of Jahon Exim Group LLC in Uzbekistan.

Host:

- Mr. Axel M. Addy, former Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chief Negotiator of Liberia's accession to the WTO.

Young Women’s Perspectives on Today’s Afghanistan

Young women often experience the intersectionality of gender and age discrimination in many societies and are even more vulnerable in situations of conflicts. What can we do better as a society to not leave behind the vulnerable populations in conflict and post-conflict contexts?

In this episode, two aspiring trade lawyers from Afghanistan, Narwan Dadgar and Shakila Mohammadi, share their experiences studying and working in Afghanistan as women, and shed light on what Trade for Peace can do for the youth and women in today's Afghanistan.

 

Guests:

- Ms. Narwan Dadgar, Former Intern, Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Afghanistan

- Ms. Shakila Mohammadi, Former Intern, Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Afghanistan

Host:

- Mr. Axel M. Addy, former Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chief Negotiator of Liberia's accession to the WTO.

Financial Inclusion for Sustainable Peace

This episode focuses on how the private sector, particularly the financial sector, is a driver for peace, and how it synergizes with trade and trade policy to assist fragile and conflict-affected situations.

With a wealth of experience in both the private and public sector, Ambassador Michael Froman, Vice Chairman and President for Strategic Growth at Mastercard and former United States Trade Representative (2013-2017), discusses the importance of shaping a favourable digital governance landscape and integrating financial inclusion into the framework of trade.  

Guest:

- Ambassador Michael Froman, Vice Chairman and President for Strategic Growth at Mastercard and former United States Trade Representative (2013-2017)

Host:

- Mr. Axel M. Addy, former Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chief Negotiator of Liberia's accession to the WTO.

Trade, Peace and Security in Eurasia

Continuing our conversation on the role of trade in 'frozen'/protracted conflicts, this episode looks at the rising tensions in Eurasia.

Bringing with him years of experience in the fields of trade diplomacy, peace and security, Ambassador Tudor Ulianovschi, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, discusses the challenges and risk factors in preserving peace in Eurasia, and how trade can be the missing piece of the puzzle of sustainable peace.

 

Guest:

- Ambassador Tudor Ulianovschi, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Moldova

Host:

- Mr. Axel M. Addy, Former Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chief Negotiator of Liberia's accession to the WTO.

Defrosting Frozen Conflicts: the Role of Trade

What are frozen conflicts? Why are they relevant? What role can trade play in alleviating such conflicts?

In this episode, we are honoured to have Ambassador Thomas Greminger, Director of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) and former Secretary General of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) from 2017 to 2020, to shed light on how to harness the potential of trade for peace in frozen conflicts.

With a lifelong career in peace and security, Ambassador Greminger shares with us his views on frozen conflicts in Eurasia and how trade can be used as a confidence-building measure (CBM) in peacebuilding.

Guest:

- Ambassador Thomas Greminger, Director of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) and former Secretary General of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Host:

- Mr. Axel M. Addy, Former Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chief Negotiator of Liberia's accession to the WTO.

Trade and Sustainable Livelihood in Fragile Contexts

In this episode, our host, Mr. Axel M. Addy, former Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chief Negotiator for WTO accession of Liberia, speaks with Dr. Gilles Carbonnier, Vice-President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Professor at the Graduate Institute's Department of International Economics, on how trade can help foster peace through improving sustainable livelihood in fragile contexts.

With 20 years of experience in both international trade and humanitarian action, Dr. Carbonnier takes us through the path of peace that is assisted by trade and humanitarian economics. He is bringing insights of how economic tools and methods can help make sense of the social reality in conflicts and how innovative economic solutions for peace like the Humanitarian Impact Bond, launched by ICRC in 2017, are leading the way of fostering trade for peace.

The Trade for Peace Podcast will be back in the new year with more exciting episodes. Until then, we wish you a very Happy Holiday season and a peaceful and prosperous New Year!

 

Guest:

- Dr. Gilles Carbonnier, Vice-President, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Professor

Host:

- Mr. Axel M. Addy, Former Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chief Negotiator of Liberia's accession to the WTO

Measuring Peace

Peace is a goal that all societies strive for. However, its meaning varies in different contexts, depending on societal values and settings.

To dissect the various dimensions of peace, our host Mr. Axel M. Addy, former Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chief Negotiator for WTO accession of Liberia, interviewed Mr. Steve Killelea, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) and Ms. Sabina Alkire, Director of the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI).

Drawing from their respective works on the Global Peace Index and the Multidimensional Poverty Index, Steve and Sabina explain that peace is more than just the absence of conflict. It is also about the availability of structures, institutions and attitudes that can foster resilience. This understanding of peace provides avenues for addressing the various dimensions of fragility, including through poverty reduction strategies.

Guests:

- Mr. Steve Killelea, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP)

- Ms. Sabina Alkire, Director of the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI)

Host:

- Mr. Axel M. Addy, Former Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chief Negotiator of Liberia's accession to the WTO

Tech and Entrepreneurship

This episode focuses on the role of technology in driving innovation and bridging the capacity gap of many LDCs, and how this role can help foster economic prosperity and its implications on trade.

Our host, Mr. Axel M. Addy, former Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chief Negotiator for WTO accession of Liberia, speaks with Mr. Joshua Setipa, the Managing Director of the UN Technology Bank for LDCs, on the frontier of technology in fostering trade and peace.

Mr. Setipa, an expert in trade and industrial policy reforms, shares with us interesting insights of how technology can assist WTO accession processes, fostering the role of women in trade and its implications on the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) whose implementation has entered into force for 38 countries in the African continent in the beginning of this year.

 

Guests:

- Mr. Joshua Setipa, Managing Director of the UN Technology Bank for LDCs.

 

Host:

- Mr. Axel M. Addy, Former Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chief Negotiator of Liberia's accession to the WTO

Voices from Liberia

Listen in to hear our host, Mr. Axel M. Addy, former Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chief Negotiator for WTO accession of Liberia, speak with two trade for peace champions making strides in Liberia’s tourism and energy sectors.

 

In this episode, Ms. Hesta Baker, National Tourism Consultant at the International Trade Centre, shares her views on the challenges prevalent in the tourism industry in Liberia as well as its many opportunities that can be harnessed through collaboration between the government, private sector, and development partners. Mr. Mahmud Johnson, Founder and CEO of J-Palm offers insights into the structural barriers facing entrepreneurs in fragile and conflict-affected countries and how business and trade can spark positive change in Liberia. Both guests provide a compelling perspective on the impact of WTO membership on economic growth and sustainable peace five years following Liberia’s accession to the WTO.                       

Guests:

- Ms. Hesta Baker, National Tourism Consultant, International Trade Centre

- Mr. Mahmud Johnson, Founder and CEO, J-Palm, Liberia

Host:

- Mr. Axel M. Addy, Former Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chief Negotiator of Liberia's accession to the WTO