The TBT and Reference Centre workshop received high-level attention in Gabon, with the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Minister of Economy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism opening the event, along with high level representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health.

The upgrading of the Reference Centre at the Ministry was highly expected and welcomed by the governmental authorities.  The Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Minister pledged that the Centre would be utilized by officials in his ministry in order to follow and benefit from E-Learning activities.

The director-general of trade of the Ministy reaffirmed during this upgrading the clear commitment to ensure that the Reference Centre would be used as a learning centre by its staff.  They also proposed to promote the centre among their colleagues, for example by hosting dedicated seminars on WTO issues. 

It was agreed that the ministry will informed the WTO Secretariat about the planning of seminars hosted at the Reference Centre. The participants were confident that the Reference Centre will allow them to keep abreast of developments in the multilateral trading system. 

M. Célestin NZENGUE, Director of International Trade, was officially appointed as the National Coordinator for the Gabon Reference Centre.  The Reference Centre manager was briefed with the new RBM concept and was informed that periodiccaly reports of the use of the Reference Centre should be provided to the Secretariat.

The Reference Centre was supplied with three computers, colour printers and photocopier, shelving, and a wide range of WTO publications (books and CD-Roms).