Twenty-four government officials from developing and least developed countries concluded a three-month intensive training course on 5 July 2012 at the WTO. The Advanced Trade Policy Course (ATPC), held in French at the WTO Headquarters in Geneva, was organized by the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation (ITTC). The diploma ceremony was held with the presence of ITTC’s director, Ms Bridget Chilala, and the Head of ITTC’s Training and Capacity Building Section, Mr. Serafino Marchese.

In her address to the participants, Ms Bridget Chilala congratulated the participants on successfully completing the training programme and encouraged them to use the knowledge and skills acquired during the course to defend their countries’ interests and reap the fruits of the multilateral trading system.

On behalf of the participants of the ATPC, Mr. Hamadou KARIDIO from Niger thanked the WTO Secretariat for all the support provided in the context of this course and highlighted the need to conclude the negotiations particularly in light of the potential benefit this could have for developing and least developed countries.

The ATPC is a “level 3” training activity implemented within the WTO progressive learning framework and, as such, represents the highest level of learning among WTO training activities. Due to its advanced nature, the course is targeted at participants who already possess a sound knowledge of the general features of the WTO system and the WTO Agreements. The learning approach of the course is multidisciplinary in that it considers both legal and economic aspects of WTO rules and disciplines. The training methodology is conceived to encourage the active involvement of participants through a series of interactive modules comprising lectures, exercises and simulations, covering most of the areas of work of the WTO. More specifically, participants are expected, by the end of their three-month stay, to complete a project relating to a trade topic of their choice. This encourages critical thinking about trade policy formulation by consolidating participants’ understanding of the linkages between WTO rules and disciplines and their respective country’s interests in the multilateral trading system.  The course also includes visits to other international organizations active in trade-related matters as well as attendance at selected meetings of WTO bodies. Contacts with WTO Secretariat officials and representatives from Missions and other international organizations are also a common feature.

Finally, in addition to this programme and objectives, guidance and inspiration is provided by a “patron” who accompanies each of the ATPCs.  For this specific course, Ambassador Bouabid, Permanent Representative of the “Organisation internationale de la francophonie” to the United Nations, accepted to share his experience and provide advice to the participants of this ATPC.  This was done during an interactive session held on 10 May where Ambassador Bouabid met the participants of this course in a highly appreciated session.

The 2012 programme of training activities comprises two three-month Advanced Trade Policy Courses, of which the second one will be held from September to December in English, several advanced thematic courses covering areas such as intellectual property, trade and environment, agriculture, SPS and dispute settlement and one Introduction Course on the WTO for least developed countries.  Along with these training activities in Geneva, the ITTC also organizes regional and national technical assistance activities in other parts of the world, including regional trade policy courses in cooperation with local and regional partner institutions.

  

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