Workshop on the 2015 Aid-for-Trade at a Glance Publication and Aid-for-Trade Monitoring and Evaluation Exercise

The 2015 edition of the Aid-for-Trade at a Glance publication, titled "Reducing Trade Costs for Inclusive, Sustainable Growth", was previewed at a workshop on 28 May. The joint OECD-WTO publication is, for the first time, being prepared in collaboration with the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), International Trade Centre (ITC), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the World Bank Group and the World Economic Forum (WEF). The publication will be officially launched at the 5th Global Review of Aid for Trade on 30 June.

See also:
> More on Aid for Trade

Participation at the Workshop is restricted to WTO Members and Observers only

The Aid-for-Trade at a Glance publication is underpinned by a monitoring and evaluation exercise. The exercise was launched by WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo and OECD Secretary General Angel Gurría in October 2014 to survey how trade costs affect developing countries' competitiveness, what is being done to address this issue, and how Aid for Trade can help reduce trade costs and the associated impacts to deliver inclusive, sustainable growth.

The survey consisted of a series of self-assessment questionnaires and a request to submit case story experiences which were circulated to WTO members, observers, intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the private sector, academia and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The information harvested from the responses has been analysed in the Aid-for-Trade at a Glance publication.

The workshop on the 2015 Aid-for-Trade at a Glance publication and Aid-for-Trade Monitoring and Evaluation Exercise (M&E) previewed results from the 2015 Aid-for-Trade M&E exercise and shared key insights emerging from the analysis of this information and other related research in the accompanying Aid-for-Trade at a Glance publication that will be presented at the 5th Global Review of Aid for Trade. Presentations were made by the collaborating authors of the publication.

Agenda

28 May 2015 — WTO, ROOM W

	10.15 — 10.20	Introductory remarks Audio
	10.15 — 10.20	Introductory remarks Audio

	10.20 — 10.30	Introduction: Overview of the M&E exercise and why trade costs matter Michael Roberts, Aid-for-Trade Coordinator, Development Division, WTO > Presentation Audio

	10.30 — 11.30	Session 1: Trade Costs and Trade Growth The influence of trade costs and trade facilitation on connecting to global and regional value chains Julien Gourdon, Trade Policy Analyst, Development Division, Trade and Agriculture Directorate, OECD > Presentation Audio How to reduce trade costs for the LDCs Ratnakar Adhikari, Executive Director, EIF > Presentation Audio How are trade costs evolving and why? Marcus Bartley Johns, Trade and Competitiveness Specialist, WBG > Presentation Audio Discussion

	11.30 — 12.30	Session 2: Aid for Trade and reducing trade costs How Aid for Trade can reduce trade costs for SMEs Marion Jansen, Chief Economist, ITC > Presentation Audio The business perspective on boosting trade and investment Sean Doherty, Director, International Trade and Investment, WEF > Presentation Audio Discussion

	15.30 — 18.00	Session 3: Where next for Aid-for-Trade action to reduce trade costs What are Aid-for-Trade priorities, policies and programmes and how can donors work better with the private sector? Frans Lammersen, Principal Administrator, Development Cooperation Directorate, OECD > Presentation Audio Implementing the Trade Facilitation Agreement Sheri Rosenow, Counsellor, Trade Facilitation Section, Market Access Division, WTO > Presentation Audio Trade, Aid for Trade and the UN's Post 2015 Development Agenda Miho Shirotori, Chief, Global and Regional Trade Analysis Section, Trade Analysis Branch/Division on International Trade, UNCTAD > Presentation Audio Discussion

	18.00	Closing remarks