UNCTAD/GATT/AIR/25 8 MARCH 1990

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

TRADE CENTRE UNCTAD/GATT (TWENTY-THIRD SESSION)

1. THE TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL MEETING OF THE JOINT ADVISORY GROUP ON THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE UNCTAD/GATT WILL CONVENE FROM 23 TO 27 APRIL 1990 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 23 APRIL.

2. THE ADVISORY GROUP WILL HAVE BEFORE IT THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION: THE PROVISIONAL AGENDA FOR THE SESSION (ITC/AG(XXIII)/L/75); THE ANNUAL REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF ITC IN 1989 (ITC/AG(XXIII)/119), AND ITS STATISTICAL APPENDIX (ITC/AG(XXIII)/119/Add.1); THE REPORT ON THE EVALUATION OF THE ITC PROGRAMME ELEMENTS EXPORT PACKAGING AND EXPORT QUALITY CONTROL (ITC/AG(XXIII)/117), THE DRAFT SECTION ON TRADE PROMOTION AND EXPORT DEVELOPMENT OF THE MEDIUM-TERM PLAN FOR THE PERIOD 1992-1997 (ITC/AG(XXIII)/118/REV.1 AND ITC/AG(XXIII)/118/ADD.1/REV.1) AND THE REPORT OF THE TECHNICAL MEETING ON THE ITC 1989 PROGRAMME EVALUATION AND ON ITC'S MEDIUM-TERM PLAN (ITC/AG(XXIII)/120). THIS DOCUMENTATION IS NOW BEING DISTRIBUTED.

3. GOVERNMENTS OF STATES MEMBERS OF UNCTAD AND CONTRACTING PARTIES TO 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, SWITZERLAND (TELEX NO. 28 90 52 ITC CH OR BY FAX NO. (41-22) 733 44 39), BY 10 APRIL 1990.

K.K.S. DADZIE A. DUNKEL