Seventh introduction course on WTO for LDCs concludes in Geneva

The seventh introduction course on the WTO for the least-developed countries (LDCs), organized by the Institute for Training and Technical Co-operation of the WTO, concluded on 15 July 2005 in Geneva.

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Twenty one representatives of least-developed African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, as well as of one regional organization, attended the course, which was conducted in French at WTO headquarters.

During the three-week course, participants were given an overview of the structure, rules and functioning of the organization in a series of sessions with ITTC trainers and experts from the "operational" divisions of the WTO Secretariat. They also had the opportunity to develop a network of contacts and reference points both amongst themselves and with WTO staff.

Special attention was paid in all course activities, in particular during the second week, to the development dimension. A forum on technical co-operation was held with experts from AITIC, the ITC, UNCTAD, and WIPO, who gave presentations on the technical assistance activities of these organizations, with particular emphasis on the specific needs of the participants' own countries. Participants were also able to discuss bilaterally more individualized aspects of these organizations' cooperation with each of their own countries. This forum also served to strengthen participants' contacts with these organizations. During the first week of the course, the participants also had the opportunity to have a presentation delivered by a representative of the Advisory Centre on WTO Law.

Over the three weeks, various speakers sought to apprise participants of the current state of play in the negotiations launched within the framework of the "Doha Development Agenda" in the different areas. The participants were also regularly briefed on the final phases of the negotiations held at the same moment to create a consensus for a framework agreement in the context of the Doha Development Agenda. They also attended two meetings related to the DDA negotiations (the Special Sessions of the Council for Trade in Services and of the Committee on Trade & Environment).

This course was funded from the WTO regular budget as part of the ongoing endeavour since the Doha Ministerial Conference to provide capacity-building for developing countries, in particular LDCs.

List of the participants back to top

Angola	M. Fernando NDOFULA, Economiste/Consultant, Direction de la Coopération internationale, Ministère du Commerce
Bénin	M. Bienvenu Comlan KOKOU, Chef de service adjoint, Service de la Réglementation et des échanges, Direction du Commerce extérieur, Ministère de l'Industrie, du Commerce et de la Promotion de l'Emploi
Burkina Faso	M. Mambila BANSE, Economiste, Direction des Etudes et de la Planification, Ministère du Commerce, de la Promotion de l'Entreprise et de l'Artisanat
Burundi	M. Philibert BARANYANKA, Chef de service "Coopération commerciale" et Conseiller juridique, Département du Commerce extérieur, Ministère du Commerce et de l'Industrie
Cap-Vert	M. José Antonio OLIVEIRA DELGADO, Juriste, Cabinet d'études et Documentation, GEDA (Cabinet d'Etudes, Documentation et accessoires), Ministère des Affaires étrangères, Coopération et Communautés
Djibouti	M. Yacoub ABDI DJAMA, chef de service par intérim, Service du Contrôle de la Qualité et des Normes, Ministère du Commerce, de l'Industrie et de l'Artisanat
Guinée équatoriale	M. Bruno Ngomo OBAHA ANGONO, Chef de Cabinet technique, Direction générale du Commerce, Ministère de l'Economie, du Commerce et de la Promotion d'Entreprises
Haïti	M. Fritz CHERY, Chargé de Mission, Direction du Commerce extérieur, Ministère du Commerce et de l'Industrie
Madagascar	M. Arison Honoré Clair ANDRIAMALALA, Commissaire du Commerce et de la Concurrence, Secrétariat du Ministère de l'Industrialisation, du Commerce et du Développement du Secteur privé
Mali	M. Chérif Mohamed KANOUTE, Chargé des dossiers OMC, Département de la Coopération multilatérale, Direction de la Coopération internationale, Ministère des Affaires étrangères et de la Coopération internationale
Mauritanie	M. Brahim OULD NDAH, Chargé de mission, Ministère du Commerce, de l'Artisanat et du Tourisme
Mozambique	Mlle Marcia Raquel MAVALE, Technicienne de planification, Département des Recherches, Direction de Planification et Coopération, Ministère du Tourisme
Niger	M. Ousmane Kiepin TOYE, Chef du Service des relations internationales, Direction centrale de la réglementation et des relations internationales, Direction générale des douanes, Ministère de l'Economie et des Finances
République centrafricaine	Mlle Clarisse Bienvenue YACKOTA, Directrice, Direction du Commerce intérieur, Ministère du Commerce, de l'Industrie et de la Promotion du Secteur privé
Rwanda	M. Innocent SIBOMANA, Directeur, Direction de la Planification et des Ressources internes, Ministère du Commerce, de l'Industrie, de la Promotion de l'Investissement, du Tourisme et des Coopératives
Sao Tomé-et-Principe	M. Basilio SACRAMENTO DIOGO, Conseiller à la Direction du Commerce et Directeur de l'Inspection de l'Activité économique, Ministère de l'économie
Sénégal	Mme Khady BA, Ingénieur statisticien, Chargée des bases de données, Centre de référence et d'analyse, Direction du Commerce extérieur, Ministère du Commerce
Tchad	M. Abba Bichara GARGUE, Chef de service de la réglementation, Division du Commerce intérieur, Ministère du Commerce, de l'Industrie et de l'Artisanat
Togo	M. Bassolawoé KOKA, Chargé d'études, Direction du Commerce intérieur et de la Concurrence, Ministère du Commerce, de l'Industrie, des Transports et du Développement de la Zone franche
UEMOA	M. Koffi Addoh GNAKADJA, Chargé des questions commerciales, Département des politiques fiscales, douanières et commerciales (DPFDC), Commission de l'UEMOA
Vanuatu	M. Wilfred KORAN, Responsable des ressources humaines, Département du Commerce et de l'Industrie, Ministère du Commerce, de l'Industrie et du Tourisme