RTPCs are intermediate training courses for government officials from WTO members and observers who are working on WTO-related issues. They are organized by the WTO in partnership with regional academic institutions selected through a competitive process.

The goal of the RTPCs is to deepen participants' understanding of the WTO agreements; enhance their understanding of multilateral and regional trade policy issues; strengthen their capacity to access and utilize WTO information resources; and facilitate network building among WTO professionals. The courses are co-delivered by officials from the WTO Secretariat and trade policy specialists and academic experts from the region.

Many RTPC participants who successfully complete the course further specialize on WTO issues by attending Geneva-based courses. Several RTPC participants have been posted as delegates to their country's Geneva-based missions to the WTO.

The course was opened with an address by Côte d'Ivoire's Minister of Planning and Development, Ms Niale Kaba, who thanked the WTO for its continued support for trade-related capacity building in  French-speaking African countries.  Her message was echoed by Mr Albert Kouatelay from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, who emphasised the importance of WTO technical assistance in strengthening the capacity of countries from the region —  many of them least developed countries (LDCs) —  to participate in the WTO's work and better integrate in the multilateral trading system. 

The opening remarks were followed by a conference entitled “Issues and challenges of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) for the expansion of intra-African trade in the face of the requirements of the WTO agreements.” The well-attended event included  an engaging round of questions and replies among the participants.