In collaboration with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and in the presence of a host of representatives from member and non-member countries, as well as regional and international organizations, UN-ESCWA will convene a Regional Seminar on “Increasing Participation of ESCWA Member Countries in the WTO Negotiations” on 24-26 February 2009, at the UN House, Riad Solh Ave.
The opening session of the seminar will begin at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, 24 February with two statements by UN-ESCWA and WTO representatives. The meeting will focus on providing participants from the Arab countries with the skills and knowledge needed for trade negotiations, with special emphasis on appropriate strategies and tactics, non-agricultural market access (NAMA), agriculture and trade in services, as well as techniques for effective participation in and monitoring of the negotiation process. This seminar aspires to convey the means to consolidate a common position on a regional level as well as to coordinate positions with other negotiating groups. The training will build national capacities of the Arab countries in pre-negotiations, planning negotiating targets, effective negotiation strategies, tactics and skills.
The three-day seminar is of special interest for national negotiators in bilateral, regional and multilateral trade negotiations as well as experts in WTO agreements or in the functioning of the multilateral trading system. Hence, the seminar will be attended by representatives from concerned ministries in the Arab countries members and non-members of UN-ESCWA, in addition to representatives of relevant regional organizations, including League of Arab States, Arab Monetary Fund, Arab Industrial Development and Mining Organization, Arab Labour Organization, Arab Organization for Agricultural Development, Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development, Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, Abu Dhabi Development Fund, the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Arab Countries, Islamic Development Bank, Economic Commission for Africa (UN-ECA) and others.
This activity is part of UN-ESCWA’s long-term work programme to assist member countries in increasing their participation in the multilateral trading system and integration in the global economy at large.