WTO NEWS: 2004 NEWS ITEMS

27 August 2004
WTO TRAINING COURSES

WTO Asia-Pacific Regional Trade Policy Course concludes

The WTO Asia-Pacific Regional Trade Policy Course organized in partnership with the University of Hong Kong concluded on 27 August 2004 in Hong Kong, China. The course, which lasted for 12 weeks, started on 7 June 2004.

The closing ceremony was attended by Ms Denise Yue, Permanent Secretary, Commerce and Industry Branch, Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau, the Government of Hong Kong, China and Professor Johannes Chan, SC, Dean, Faculty of Law, the University of Hong Kong and Mr. Paul Rolian, Director of the WTO Institute for Training and Technical Co-operation Division.

Government officials from 31 countries in the Asia-Pacific region attended the course. During the twelve weeks, participants were immersed in WTO work and were given the opportunity to learn in a theoretical and practical way the functioning of the organization. Participating officials became acquainted, through lectures, debates, visits to regulatory agencies and simulation exercises, with virtually all the issues dealt with in the framework of the organization.

The overall objective of the course was to widen participants' understanding of trade policy matters, the multilateral trading system, international trade law and the functioning of the WTO.

Regional Trade Policy Courses (RTPCs) are built on the same model as Geneva-based trade policy courses and are delivered in partnership with an institution of higher learning in different regions of the world. One of the main features of the regional trade policy courses is that all topics are presented by both WTO staff and regional resource persons from regional academic institutions and think-tanks. WTO lecturers provide authoritative explanations of WTO provisions and the workings of the institution, and specialists from the region deliver lectures and discussions with a strong emphasis on regional concerns. This
dual-delivery approach provides the training with a regional relevance and context that is unique to RTPCs. Over 20 regional experts took part in the delivery of the Hong Kong RTPC.

In his closing address, Mr. Rolian thanked the University of Hong Kong for their support and spirit of partnership in developing and delivering the RTPC. He congratulated them on the successful outcome of the RTPC. Addressing the participants, he hoped that as a result of the course they would return home in a better position to assist their authorities as they strived to derive the benefits of the multilateral trading system and to defend their positions in the current and future negotiations.
  

List of the participants  back to top

Afghanistan

Mr. Ghulam DASTGIR, Director, Foreign Trade Department,
Ministry of Commerce

Bangladesh

Mr. Pradip ROYHAN, Senior Assistant Secretary, WTO Cell, Bangladesh Secretariat, Ministry of Commerce

Bhutan

Mr. Tandin TSHERING, Regional Director, Regional Trade and Industry Office, Ministry of Trade and Industry

Brunei Darussalam

Mrs. Kamilah HAJI MOHO HANIFAH, Special Duties Officer,
International Relations and Trade Development Division, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources

Cambodia

Mr. Yuvaroath TAN, Deputy Chief, Trade in Services Bureau
Asean and International Organisation Department, Ministry of Commerce

China

Mr. Defeng E, Director, Division of Agriculture, Department for WTO Affairs, Ministry of Commerce

Fiji

Mr. Laitia Saqarere KOROIWASA, Acting Senior Assistant Secretary, Economic International Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade

Hong Kong, China

Ms Sui King LAI, Trade Officer, Regional Cooperation Division
Trade and Industry Department

Hong Kong, China

Mr. Tommy Yiu-Wai LAI, Assistant Secretary
Rehabilitation Division, Health Welfare and Food Bureau, Government Secretariat

India

Mr. Anil AGGARWAL, Deputy Director General of Foreign Trade
Policy Division and Electronic Data Interchange Division,
Directorate of Commerce

Indonesia

Mr. Boris SITUMORANG, Head, New Issues-WTO Division, Directorate for Multilateral Co-operation, Directorate General for Industry and International Trade Co-operation, Ministry of Industry and Trade

Kiribati

Miss Roreti ERITAI, Senior Trade Promotion Officer, Trade Promotion Division, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives

Korea

Mr. Yung-Suh PARK, Deputy Director Responsible for Trade Committee in OECD, Economic Organisations Division, International Economic Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Lao People's Dem. Rep.

Mr. Somphouang PHIENPHINITH, Deputy General Director,
Economic Research Institute for Trade, Ministry of Commerce

Macao, China

Miss Vai Man LEUNG, Senior Officer, International Economic Affairs Division, Macao Economic Services

Malaysia

Mr. Said RASHIDI, Assistant Director, Multilateral Trade Policy and Negotiations Division, Ministry of International Trade and Industry

Maldives

Mr. Ahmed NASHEED, Chief Customs Officer, Valuation and Tariff Division, Maldives Customs Service, Ministry of Trade and Industries

Mongolia

Miss Nomuundari Na GALSANDORJ, Assistant Researcher of International Trade Policy, Trade Policy and Cooperation Department, Ministry of Trade and Industry

Myanmar

Miss Win Min PHYOE, Assistant Director, WTO and International Organisation Section, International Trade Promotion Department,
Directorate of Trade

Nepal

Mr. Prem Prasad GHIMIRE, Section Officer, WTO Division, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies

Pakistan

Mr. Muhammad Usman QURESHI, Section Officer, Export General Wing, Ministry of Commerce

Papua New Guinea

Mr. Matthew Tewi N'DREWEI, Senior Foreign Service Officer,
Economic Affairs and Development Cooperation Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Immigration

Philippines

Mrs. Maribel Gozun MARGES, Chief Fiber Development Officer
WTO and SPS Affairs, Policy Research Services, Department of Agriculture

Samoa

Miss Azaria LESA, Foreign Investment Registrar, Industry Development and Investment Unit, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour

Singapore

Mr. Joshua LEE, Assistant Director, Directorate Trade Division
Ministry of Trade and Industry, The Treasury

Sri Lanka

Mr. Wesly Wimal Hemachandra ABEYNAYAKAGE, Assistant Director of Commerce, Regional and Bilateral Relations and Trade Promotion Division, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Chinese Taipei

Mr. Bochia NI, Officer/Secretary, Section of Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Mongolia Bureau of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs

Thailand

Miss Juntra SIRIUTHAIKORN, Trade Officer, Bureau of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, Department of Multilateral Trade Negotiations,
Ministry of Commerce

Tonga

Mr. Tevita Kilisimasi HA'APAI, Market Development Officer, Tonga Trade Division, Ministry of Labour, Commerce and Industry

Tuvalu

Mrs. Palipa LAUTI, Business Training Officer, Department of Industries, Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Industries

Vanuatu

Mr. Taman Noel MALOSU, Principal Trade and Tariff Officer, Tariff, Trades and Industry Support Unit, Vanuatu Customs and Inland Revenue Department

Viet Nam

Miss Phuong Dzung DO, Expert, International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Industry