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COMMITTEE ON
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JOINT MEETING OF THE
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Rome, 7-9 December 1998 |
PROVISIONAL ANNOTATED
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IIECONOMIC AND POLICY ISSUES RELATING TO WORLD HARD FIBRES AND JUTE ECONOMIES
INTERGOVERNMENTAL ACTIONS ON HARD FIBRES AND JUTE
The Joint Meeting of the Intergovernmental Group on Hard Fibres (Thirtieth Session) and of the Intergovernmental Group on Jute, Kenaf And Allied Fibres (Thirty-second Session) will open at FAO Headquarters in Rome on Monday, 7 December 1998 at 1430 hours.
The Committee on Commodity Problems, at its Sixty-first Session in February 1997, requested the Secretariat to seek to organize joint sessions of related intergovernmental groups (IGGs) on a selective basis with a view to achieving further savings whilst providing an opportunity for improved understanding of the underlying economic factors affecting these commodities. A joint session of these two Groups was subsequently provided for in the Director-General's Programme of Work and Budget for 1998/99, and arrangements have been made for the Session following consultations between the Bureaux of the two Groups.
This will be the first occasion on which these two Intergovernmental Groups meet in a joint session. The Provisional Agenda seeks to address to the extent possible, matters of common concern to both IGGs. However, provision has also been made for informal meetings among producing and consuming member countries of each fibre to discuss matters of individual concern (see annexed Provisional Timetable)
A. ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON AND VICE-CHAIRPERSONS
The Session will elect a Chairperson and two Vice- Chairpersons. The IGG on Hard Fibres at its Twenty-ninth Session elected Mr J.M. Teotico (Philippines) as Chairperson, Mr F. Nkuba (Tanzania) as first Vice-Chairperson, and Mr J. Wade (United States of America) as Second Vice-Chairperson. The IGG on Jute, Kenaf and Allied Fibres at its Thirty-first Session, elected Mr Ajay Prasad (India) as Chairperson, Mr J. Schraven (Germany) as first Vice-Chairperson and Mr A.K.M. Rezaur Rahman (Bangladesh) as Second Vice-Chairperson.
B. ADOPTION OF PROVISIONAL AGENDA
A. REVIEW OF MARKET DEVELOPMENTS AND SHORT-TERM OUTLOOK FOR SISAL, ABACA, COIR, JUTE AND KENAF
The Session will assess the market situation and outlook for the various fibres. It will inter alia issue forecasts of production and utilization of jute for the 1998/99 season in accordance with the normal practice of that Group. The Secretariat will provide a background document (CCP: HF 98/2-JU 98/2) on the short-term outlook, including competition from synthetics which have made inroads into markets for natural fibres. A statistical compendium (CCP: HF 98/3-JU 98/3) on production, consumption, trade, and prices of the various fibres and their manufactures will also be provided. Delegates from producing and consuming countries will be invited to present short statements analyzing recent significant developments and assessing the outlook in the fibre sectors of their countries.
B. INFORMAL PRICE ARRANGEMENTS FOR SISAL, ABACA, JUTE AND KENAF
In the light of its market assessment, the Session may wish to recommend appropriate indicative prices for East African and Brazilian sisal, sisal baler twine, abaca fibre, Bangladesh jute and Thai kenaf.
The IGG on Hard Fibres at its Twenty-ninth Session in 1996 recommended the following indicative prices:
The IGG on Jute, Kenaf and Allied Fibres at its Thirty-first Session in 1997 recommended the following indicative prices:
It may be recalled that the IGG on Jute agreed that a better evaluation of prospective consumption levels and import requirements would be of greater value to producing countries than the establishment of indicative prices based solely, or largely, on supply considerations.
C. MARKET OUTLOOK TO THE YEAR 2005
One of the functions of the Intergovernmental Groups is to evaluate the longer-term market outlook. To assist the Session in this task the Secretariat will present document CCP: HF 98/4-JU 98/4 reviewing the outlook for supply and demand of hard fibres to the year 2005 and CCP: HF 98/5-JU 98/5 presenting projections for the supply and demand for jute revised in the light of comments of the IGG on Jute at its last Session. Delegates of producing and consuming countries will be invited to outline their views on the longer-term future for these natural fibres.
D. FOOD SECURITY IMPLICATIONS OF PRODUCTION AND EXPORT OF HARD FIBRES, JUTE, KENAF AND ALLIED FIBRES IN SELECTED COUNTRIES
At its Sixty-first Session in February 1997, the Committee on Commodity Problems underlined the contribution which export earnings of developing countries could make to their food security, noting that trade and food security was one of the themes addressed by the World Food Summit. A preliminary assessment on the food security implications of production and exports of hard fibres, jute, kenaf and allied fibres in selected countries will be presented for the consideration of the Session as document CCP: HF 98/6-JU 98/6.
E. REPORT OF THE INFORMAL CONSULTATION ON HARD FIBRES, AMSTERDAM, 1-2 DECEMBER 1997
Following the recommendation of the Twenty-ninth Session of the IGG on Hard Fibres and the success of the First Informal Consultation, the Second Informal Consultation on Hard Fibres was held in Amsterdam, 1-2 December 1997. The report of the Consultation has been provided as document CCP: HF 98/7-JU 98/7. The Session may wish to assess the value of informal intersessional meetings and to make recommendations on future activities.
A. COMMODITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES:
COMMON FUND FOR COMMODITIES (CFC) PROJECTS ON HARD FIBRES
The IGG on Hard Fibres has been designated an International Commodity Body (ICB) by the Common Fund for Commodities, and in this role, it has promoted projects on sisal, abaca and coir. The IGG on Jute, Kenaf and Allied Fibres does not have a similar responsibility. The Secretariat will present a document (CCP: HF 98/8-JU 98/8) which details recent progress on hard fibres projects, and on the status of projects proposed for financing. Further action on these projects may be considered as well as the formulation and promotion of potential new projects.
The Session may wish to review any additional project profiles on hard fibres submitted for its consideration. Such proposals should reach the Secretariat before the end of October 1998.
B. INTERGOVERNMENTAL ACTION ON HARD FIBRES AND JUTE IN OTHER FORA
Representatives of other international organisations may wish to inform the Groups of their activities relating to hard fibres and jute.
A. REVIEW OF THE MANDATE AND STRUCTURE OF THE IGGS
The Sixty-second Session of the Committee on Commodity Problems, in February 1997, requested that the Secretariat seek to organise joint sessions of related IGGs.
The present joint meeting of the IGG on Hard Fibres and the IGG on Jute, Kenaf and Allied Fibres will be the first to have been held; and delegates may wish to reflect on the advantages and disadvantages of such arrangements. As the CCP is to meet next in January 1999, and is to consider further the mandate and operations of the IGGs, members may wish to have their views communicated to the CCP.
| Monday, 7 December | |
| - 0930 hours: | Sub-Group of Sisal Producing Countries |
| Informal Consultation between
jute and kenaf producers and consumers
Provision will also be made for informal meetings for coir and abaca producers and consumers if required. |
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| - 1430-1730 hours: | Joint Meeting Agenda items I(A), I(B), II(A), II(B). |
| Tuesday, 8 December | |
| - 0930-1230 hours: | II(C), II(D), II(E) |
| - 1400-1700 hours: | III, IV(A-D) |
| Wednesday, 9 December | |
| - 1600 hours: | IV(E) |