GCC24-1

In 2023, the WTO and the World Bank jointly published a study entitled 'Trade in Services for Development', which underscored the significant and multifaceted development impact of trade in services and the important opportunities it offers to developing countries in terms of export-led growth, economic diversification, inflows of foreign direct investment, enhanced regulatory governance, and integration into global value chains. The co-publication argues that increased levels of Aid for Trade in services are required to help developing countries take fuller advantage of the growth and development opportunities presented by services trade. It advances a Trade in Services for Development Initiative, spelling out the broad elements of an Aid for Trade roadmap for services aimed at facilitating international cooperation and scaling up the capacity of developing countries to participate more meaningfully in services trade and engage in services deliberations.

This workshop will allow for a discussion of the development impact of trade in services and situate global trends in the context of the region. It will promote exchanges on possible elements, at the regional level, of a work programme on trade in services to increase the participation in global services trade and help them harness the development promise of a world more service-centric world economy.