35th and 36th WTO Trade Policy Courses end

Fifty-two Government officials from developing countries and economies in transition concluded on 7 April a three-month immersion into the WTO. The 35th and 36th Trade Policy Courses (TPCs) were held in Geneva, at the WTO Headquarters.

In his address to the participants, Mr. Rolian congratulated the participants for completing the training programme. He invited them to transform the qualities and the spirit they had demonstrated during the courses into good and efficient work for their respective countries and expressed the hope that the knowledge and skills imparted to the participants during the courses would be disseminated to as wide a public as possible. To date one hundred and twenty-two TPCs have been organized both under the GATT and the WTO. Paul Rolian invited the participants to keep alive the network of contacts, which has been consolidated during this Geneva-based activity.

On behalf of the 35th TPC, Mr. Sami Balla Ibrahim (Sudan) extended the participants' appreciation and gratitude for providing them with “this golden opportunity to participate in the programme”. He qualified the course as an “eye opener as it allowed to see the whole forest rather than just a tree”. “This course has also, enhanced and broaden our horizon on WTO issues. It has created a bridge of understanding of the needs, interests, concerns and level of development of each participant, taking into account the geographical, cultural, religious and linguistic differences”, said Sami Balla Ibrahim. On behalf of the 36th TPC, Mr. Hussam E. A'ala (Syria) highlighted the difference that three intensive month of training can make. He expressed the participants' appreciation for the opportunity to share views and thoughts during the course with Director-General Lamy on the role of the WTO for developing countries. “I would like to assure you that [the WTO's] contribution to the development of human capital does make a difference for developing countries”, said Hussam E. A'ala.

Trade Policy Courses are expected to promote a more active participation of beneficiary countries in the work of the Organization. Throughout the three-month training, officials become acquainted, through lectures, debates, attendance at WTO meetings and simulation exercises, with virtually all the issues dealt with within the framework of the WTO. Visits to other international organizations located in Geneva also provide an opportunity to become familiar with trade-related aspects of the work conducted by these organizations.

In 2006, two other TPCs will take place in Geneva and five similar courses, organized in cooperation with regional academic partners, have already been or will be held in Jamaica, Hong Kong-China, Morocco, Chile, and Namibia. A series of shorter courses will complement the Geneva-based programme while a large number of national and regional technical cooperation activities will take place in the field as part of the 2006 WTO Technical Cooperation and Training Plan.

List of the participants  back to top

35th WTO TRADE POLICY COURSE (in English)
Geneva, 16 January — 7 April 2006

36th WTO TRADE POLICY COURSE (in English)
Geneva, 16 January — 7 April 2006