ECONOMIC RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
WTO Chairs Programme: 11 February 2014
Book launch: Connecting to Global Markets
Challenges and Opportunities:
Case Studies Presented by WTO Chair Holders
In recent decades, trade flows have become increasingly global, with developing countries and emerging economies playing an ever-expanding role. However, these countries face a number of constraints in connecting to global markets.
See also:
> Building trade capacity
> Economic research and analysis
> Students and young professionals
To obtain a better understanding of these constraints, the WTO invited the members of its academic network in developing countries — the WTO Chairs Programme — to identify major challenges in their respective countries and suggest ways to overcome them. In response, the WTO chair-holders contributed a set of papers to the WTO’s Annual Conference of the Chairs Programme and to the Global Review of Aid for Trade in July 2013.
These papers have been collected in an edited volume titled “Connecting to Global Markets: Challenges and Opportunities — Case Studies Presented by WTO Chair Holders”. The volume will be officially launched on February 11 at the occasion of a half day conference to be held at the WTO's Centre William Rappard. At the conference the book will be presented and will be discussed in the context of a panel debate involving Geneva based policy makers and academics.
“Connecting to Global Markets: Challenges and Opportunities” brings together contributions from the 14 WTO chair-holders of the first phase of the WTO Chair Programme (2010 — 2014). The volume is divided into four sections, focusing on export diversification, the role of non-tariff measures, the rule of law in connecting to global markets, and the role of the Aid for Trade initiative in building trade capacity and overcoming supply side constraints.
The contributions provide some powerful arguments in support of using trade policy instruments as an engine for growth and provide valuable insights into how developing countries can increasingly integrate into the multilateral trading system.
WTO Chairs Programme (WCP)
Book Launch
Connecting to Global Markets: Challenges and Opportunities
Case Studies Presented by WTO Chair Holders
WTO, Centre William Rappard, Room W
Tuesday 11 February 2014
Programme
Chair: Mr Robert Teh, Economic Research and Statistics Division (ERSD) |
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10:30 — 10:35 |
Welcoming words Ms Bridget Chilala, Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation (ITTC) |
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10:35 — 10:50 |
Opening Remarks |
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10:50 — 11:20 |
Presentation of the edited volume Ms Marion Jansen (ERSD),
Mr Maarten Smeets (ITTC) |
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11:20 — 12:45 |
Panel Discussion Moderator: Mr Keith Rockwell (IERD, WTO) General discussion |
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12:45 — 13:00 |
Closing Remarks Mr Xiaozhun Yi,Deputy Director-General (WTO) |
Registration is mandatory for those who do not have WTO accreditation. Should you wish to register, please send an email to [email protected] by noon, 7 February 2014. Registered participants will need to leave their passport or ID card at the registration office before entering the building.