Conclusion of the 34th Trade Policy Course

The organizers emphasized the importance of the knowledge acquired during the three months spent in Geneva to master the full complexity of WTO issues back in their respective posts as well as the importance of the network built during these three months. These two issues were stressed to be of particular importance in the present context of the on-going trade negotiations.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Mr. Aluthgama Gamladdalage Nimal KARUNATILAKE (Sri Lanka) thanked the World Trade Organization, and particularly all the Secretariat staff who lectured during these three months, for the dedication in sharing their expertise and experience with the selected officials from 27 developing countries/Separate Customs Territories and economies in transition. He also thanked all his “classmates” for all the joint efforts throughout simulations and practical exercises as well as for all the fond and good memories and anecdotes everybody would bring back to their respective countries. In a very friendly and relaxed general ambiance, he concluded by remembering some of those good moments.

This three-month Trade Policy Course was the last training activity to be held in Geneva in 2005. The program of the year 2006 for training activities carried out by the Institute of Training and Technical Cooperation at the Headquarters of the Organization, will be composed of four three-month Trade Policy Courses, two Introductory courses on the WTO for the least developed countries and several other courses on specific trade-related topics such as trade negotiations, dispute settlement and the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures. In parallel with these training activities organized in Geneva, five regional trade policy courses lasting three months each will also be organized in the field in 2006 in partnership with local and regional institutions.

  

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