LDC graduation and emerging priorities

9.30 – 9.40

Opening remarks

• H.E. Mr. Ahmad Makaila, Ambassador, Chad, LDC Coordinator
• Mr. Stephen Fevrier, Senior Advisor to the WTO Director General

9.40 – 11.00

Session 1. LDC graduation: market access

In this session LDC trading partners will share perspectives on market access opportunities available to LDCs. The session will also provide examples of transition period available to LDC graduates under some of the existing preferential schemes. Some of the findings from the recent analysis on the topic would also be highlighted. The session will also enable the LDC delegations to share experiences in accessing markets of their trading partners.

Moderator:

• H.E. Mr. Kemvichet Long, Ambassador, Cambodia

Speakers:

• H.E. Mr. João Aguiar Machado, Ambassador, European Union
• H.E. Ms. Pimchanok Pitfield, Ambassador, Thailand
• Dr. Patrick Low, Senior Advisor, Tulip Consulting, former WTO Chief Economist

11.00 – 11.15

Coffee break

11.15 – 12.30

Session 2. LDC graduation: WTO rules

The session will discuss possible impact of LDC graduation on WTO rules and disciplines. The session will offer an opportunity for the participants to discuss possible challenges and technical assistance options available to LDCs.

Moderator:

• H.E. Ms. Margarida Izata, Ambassador, Angola

Speakers:

• Mr. Taufiqur Rahman, Head, LDC Unit, Development Division, WTO
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• Mr. Wolf Meier-Ewert, Counsellor, Intellectual Property Division, Secretary, WTO TRIPS Council
• Ms. Clarisse Morgan, Director, Rules, Division

12.30 – 14.00

Lunch break

14.00 – 15.15

Session 3. LDC graduation: development cooperation

The session will bring together key stakeholders from the international community to discuss international support measures on LDC graduation. It will also highlight some of the transition periods available in the UN system, as well as in trade capacity building programmes, to ensure smooth transition and sustainable graduation.

Moderator:

• H.E. Mr. Mustafizur Rahman, Ambassador, Bangladesh

Speakers:

• Ms. Heidi Schroderus-Fox, Director, UN-OHRLLS
• Dr. Junior Davis, Head, Policy Analysis and Research Branch of the Division for Africa, LDCs and Special Programmes, UNCTAD
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• Mr. Ashish Shah, Director, Division of Country Programmes, ITC
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• Dr. Ratnakar Adhikari, Executive Director, EIF

15.15 – 15.30

Coffee break

15.30 – 17.00

Session 4. LDC priorities: Forward-looking perspectives

The session will provide a platform for LDCs to exchange views on the emerging trade priorities and the support required to help LDCs become more active players in global trade in the next decade.

Moderator:

• Dr. Joëlle Noailly, Lecturer, Department of International Economics, The Graduate Institute

Presentation:

• Dr. Marcelo Olarreaga, Professor of Economics, University of Geneva
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Discussants:

• Dr. Bernard Hoekman, Professor and Director, Global Economics, Robert Schuman Centre for Advances Studies, European University Institute
• Mr. Pierre Sauvé, Senior Trade Specialist, World Bank Group

17.00 – 17.30

Closing session

Moderator:

• Mr. Shishir Priyadarshi, Director, Development Division, WTO

Speakers:

• DDG Xiangchen Zhang, Deputy Director General, WTO
• H.E. Mr. Ahmad Makaila, Ambassador, Chad, LDC Coordinator
• H.E. Ms. Kirsti Kauppi, Ambassador, Finland, Chair, Sub-Committee on LDCs