KAMPALA, May 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Chief of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) K.Y. Amoako has called on African finance ministers, central bank governors and other leaders to draw up programs to bolster trade, reduce poverty and fight the AIDS scourge.

    He made the appeal upon arrival in Entebbe International Airport Sunday evening to attend the week-long ECA meeting beginning here Tuesday.

    "All eyes in the world are on Africa. I hope the meeting can bolster trade so that Africa can meet the millennium goals to reduce poverty," he said.

    Africa needs domestic investments and domestic savings, he said,adding, "We have been crying for access to markets, crying againstagricultural subsidies by the rich nations."

    He also said Africa needs to remove impediments to trade, to encourage intra-African trade, to increase its capacity to export quality and quantity and to improve its infrastructure.

    The ECA chief hailed Uganda's globally acclaimed anti-AIDS strategies and economic reforms. Enditem