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.

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)


 

10:30 — 10:35

Welcoming words

Ms Bridget Chilala, Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation (ITTC)
Audio

 
 
 

10:35 — 10:50

Opening Remarks

Mr. Roberto Azevêdo, Director-General (WTO)
> Speech
Audio

 
 
 
 

10:50 — 11:20

Presentation of the edited volume

“Connecting to Global Markets — Challenges and Opportunities: Case Studies Presented by WTO Chair-Holders”

Ms Marion Jansen (ERSD), Mr Maarten Smeets (ITTC)
Audio

 
 
 
 

11:20 — 12:45

Panel Discussion

Moderator: Mr Keith Rockwell (IERD, WTO)
Panelist: HE Mr Marwa Joel Kisiri (ACP)
Panelist: HE Mr Joakim Reiter (Sweden)
Panelist: Ms Selina Jackson (World Bank, Geneva)
Panelist: Prof. Marcelo Olarreaga (University of Geneva)

General discussion
Audio

 
 
 
 

12:45 — 13:00

Closing Remarks

Mr Xiaozhun Yi,Deputy Director-General (WTO)
Audio

 

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.