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ways. Of critical importance is the need for development partnersto support efforts aimed at creating a common preference schemewith full product coverage, flexible rules of origin and a predictabletime frame. As you are well aware, current schemes have inflexiblerules of origin, exclude certain products that are of importanceto LDCs and include eligibility criteria that negatively affect regionalintegration.ECA continues to support the efforts of African LDCs to achieve theirdevelopment objectives as demonstrated by the establishment of adedicated team in its Economic Development and NEPAD Divisionto specifically work on LDCs’ issues. We also organized the Africanregional review of the Brussels Programme of Action for LDCs whoseoutcomes involved the adoption of a common African position thatwill no doubt inform the final outcome document of UNLDC IV.Other examples of ECA’s support to African LDCs include the developmentof policy-enhancing knowledge products such as the EconomicReport on Africa (ERA), the Africa MDGs Report, and the AfricanGovernance Report, to name a few. These products and as wellas the capacity building and advisory services provided by ECA focuson strengthening democratic and economic governance in Africancountries including LDCs.There remains much ground to cover and this forum affords us theopportunity to take stock and renew our efforts. As we reflect anddeliberate on this very important theme, we should be guided by theultimate goal of coming up with practical and concrete proposals toupscale the productive capacities of LDCs so as to increase growthand employment and thereby increase welfare and reduce poverty.120 Part Two