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1 August 2003
TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND TRAINING
4th “Special Pre-Cancún” Introduction Course to the WTO

The “special pre-Cancún” introduction course to the WTO, organized under the auspices of the WTO Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation, was held in Geneva from 14 July to 1 August 2003.

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Representatives of 21 developing and least-developed African and Caribbean countries attended this course, which was organized in French at WTO headquarters. The three-week programme was held at a key moment in the preparatory process for the Fifth Ministerial Conference, which will take place in Cancún, Mexico, from 10 to 14 September 2003.

The main aim of the first two weeks of the course was to give a sufficiently broad overview to enable participants to gain a more in-depth overall understanding of the multilateral trading system and of the structure, rules and workings of the WTO.

Particular emphasis was placed on the preparatory work for the forthcoming Ministerial Conference. In particular, participants had the opportunity of following the General Council discussions on 14 and 15 July, as well as part of the technical negotiations by observing certain Committee on Agriculture proceedings — agriculture being one of the topics on the negotiating agenda established at Doha. The third week was devoted entirely to a series of specific presentations on negotiating areas. The development dimension was addressed at special sessions and in discussions during which participants were invited to share their experience in that area.

This course was funded by the WTO regular budget as part of the ongoing endeavour since the Doha Ministerial Conference to provide capacity building for developing countries..
  

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