AID FOR TRADE: AID FOR TRADE AND SERVICES — 11 JULY 2012

Workshop on Aid for Trade and Services

  


Services matter for development for a variety of reasons, including as an avenue for export diversification, as an input into the production of goods and services and because of the service sector’s contribution to employment and poverty alleviation.  Advances in information and communications technology, combined with rapid growth in technology and the global expansion of the internet are transforming the trade ability of services.  Services can be an input for trade in goods (and other services), but also a “final export” for direct consumption.

Background Note by the Secretariat: WT/COMTD/AFT/W/34.

  

Agenda

  

3 p.m. — 3.05 p.m.
  Chair introduction

Audio: Chair’s opening remarks 
  

 

SESSION 1:

AID FOR TRADE AND SERVICES — SUPPORTING THE ROLE OF SERVICES IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
 
  3.05 p.m. – 4.30 p.m.  
  World Trade Organization: Role of Services in Trade and Development  
   

Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh, Director, Trade and Services Division, WTO Secretariat

  • Services and Trade — emerging realities
  • Services and Developing Countries — rules and practices
  • GATS, developing countries and LDCs
  • Aid for Trade and Services: Perspectives and Opportunities
      
 
  World Bank: Role of Services in Economic Development  
   

Nora Carina Dihel, Senior Trade Economist, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Network, African Region, World Bank

  • Services and economic development
  • Services and employment in developing countries
  • World Bank’s work in Eastern and Southern Africa
  • Services Knowledge Platform
  • Services Trade Restrictiveness Index
    > Presentation
      
 
  United States: Supporting the emergence of the Service Sectors in Developing Countries — US perspective and experience  
 

Kenneth Schagrin, Attaché, Permanent Mission of the United Sates to the World Trade Organization

  • Services and development: a US perspective
  • USAID support to services
  • Case stories on mobile banking
      
  Discussion
  
 
 

Audio: Listen to Session 1   > help 

  
 
 

SESSION 2:

AID FOR TRADE AND SERVICES — UNLOCKING THE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL OF THE TOURISM SECTOR  
 

4.30 p.m. – 6 p.m.

 
  Moderator: Dale Honeck, Counsellor, Trade and Services Division, WTO Secretariat  
 

Presentation:

   
 

ITC:

Tourism, economic development and Aid for Trade  
   

Mr Robert Skidmore, Chief, Sector Competitiveness, International Trade Centre

  • Potential of tourism for economic development and poverty reduction
  • Lessons for ITC’s Aid for Trade programmes
  • Key questions for Aid for Trade programming:
    • Sustainable Development
    • Value addition and backward linkages
    • Employment, gender and skills
    • National policies
    • Donor support
    • Private sector engagement
    • Monitoring impact
    > Presentation
      
 
 

Discussants:
  

    
  Comoros

Mr. Abdoul El Karim MOHAMED, Economic Affairs Officer, Department of Economic, Ministry of Finance, Budget, Economy, Trade and Investment, Comoros
  

 
  UNDP Ms. Luisa E. Bernal, Policy Specialist, Trade and Human Development, United Nations Development Programme, Geneva Office
  
 
  St Vincent and The Grenadines

Ms Ayana John-Patrick, Project Manager, EPA, Department of Foreign Trade and Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Consumer Affairs
  

 
  Discussion
  
 
 

5.50 p.m.
  

  Chair Closing remarks

Audio: Chair’s closing remarks 

 

Audio: Listen to Session 2   > help