UNCTAD/GATT/AIR/23 25 FEBRUARY 1988

SUBJECT: ANNUAL MEETING OF THE JOINT ADVISORY GROUP ON THE INTERNATIONAL

TRADE CENTRE UNCTAD/GATT (TWENTY-FIRST SESSIONS)

1. THE TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL MEETING OF THE JOINT ADVISORY GROUP ON THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE UNCTAD/GATT WILL CONVENE FROM 11 TO 15 APRIL 1988 AT THE PALAIS DES NATIONS, GENEVA STARTING AT 10 A.M. THE GROUP WILL EXAMINE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CENTRE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE UNCTAD TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD AND THE GATT COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES. IN VIEW OF THE SHORT DURATION OF THE SESSION, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT REPRESENTATIVES BE PREPARED TO ENTER INTO THE GENERAL DEBATE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE STATEMENT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE FIRST MEETING ON MONDAY 11 APRIL.

2. THE ADVISORY GROUP WILL HAVE BEFORE IT THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION: THE PROVISIONAL AGENDA FOR THE SESSION (ITC/AG(XXI)/L/69); THE ANNUAL REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF ITC IN 1987 (ITC(AG(XXI)/110), AND ITS STATISTICAL APPENDIX (ITC/AG(XXI)/110/ADD.1); THE REPORT ON THE EVALUATION OF ITC SUPPLY AND DEMAND SURVEYS (ITC/AG(XXI)/109, AND THE REPORT OF THE MEETING ON EVALUATION OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND SURVEYS (ITC/AG(XXI)/109/ADD.1).

3. GOVERNMENTS OF STATES MEMBERS OF UNCTAD AND GATT ARE INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO THIS MEETING. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THIS REPRESENTATION BE AT THE LEVEL OF SENIOR OFFICIALS CONCERNED WITH TRADE PROMOTION OR THE DEVELOPMENT OF FOREIGN TRADE IN GENERAL. IT IS ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE THAT THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, WHICH THE CENTRE IS DESIGNED TO SERVE, BE ADEQUATELY REPRESENTED.

4. THE MEETING IS OPEN TO SPECIALIZED AGENCIES AND UNITED NATIONS BODIES, AND TO OBSERVERS FROM OTHER INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS HAVING AN INTEREST IN TRADE PROMOTION.

5. IT IS REQUESTED THAT THE NAMES OF REPRESENTATIVES TO THE JOINT ADVISORY GROUP MEETING BE COMMUNICATED TO THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE UNCTAD/GATT, PALAIS DES NATIONS, 1211 GENEVA 10 (TELEX N. 28 90 52 ITC CH), BY 21 MARCH 1988.

K.K.S. DADZIE A. DUNKEL

88-0238