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WTO: 2005 PRESS RELEASES

Press/403
21 April 2005
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Canada donates 156,000 Canadian dollars for the second Caribbean Regional Trade Policy Course

Canada contributed the amount of CAN$ 156,000 (CHF 149,000) to the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund. The contribution was made towards the second Caribbean Regional Trade Policy Course.

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“I welcome Canada’s contribution,” said Director-General Supachai Panitchpakdi. “Part of the reason why developing countries have difficulties participating actively in the Doha Development Agenda negotiations is their lack of human resources. Canada’s donation will help train developing country  officials. The course will enable them to better understand the WTO agreements and to take a more active part in the negotiation of new market access commitments.”

The Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund finances activities which aim to enhance developing countries’ participation in the WTO negotiations.

The Regional Trade Policy Courses are part of the WTO’s technical assistance and capacity building programme, and are modelled on three-month trade policy courses that have been organized by the GATT/WTO in Geneva for over 40 years. They were introduced in 2002 and have since been held in Africa and in Hong Kong, China, for the Asia-Pacific region.