Title of the activity
Virtual training on trade in services for acceding governments (in collaboration with the ITC)
Activity Type
Virtual workshop - Global
Description
This 2-week long virtual training course will be organised for government officials from observer governments who are involved in accession negotiations, in particular, in preparing market access offers on services. The course will comprise a mix of live and pre recorded lectures, exercises and experience-sharing discussions. Trends in trade in services, GATS disciplines, scheduling of commitments, bilateral aspects of accession negotiations and services commitments in accessions, among others, will be the focus of this course.
The ITC's substantive contribution to the programme will focus on providing technical advice for conducting services negotiations as well as domestic reforms (for the purposes of alignment with existing/future commitments, export competitiveness, etc.), in particular through support for business advocacy. In addition, the ITC will provide English-Russian-English interpretation which has proved to be an added value for a number of Russian-speaking observer governments, notably, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Turkmenistan.
The ITC's substantive contribution to the programme will focus on providing technical advice for conducting services negotiations as well as domestic reforms (for the purposes of alignment with existing/future commitments, export competitiveness, etc.), in particular through support for business advocacy. In addition, the ITC will provide English-Russian-English interpretation which has proved to be an added value for a number of Russian-speaking observer governments, notably, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Turkmenistan.
Venue
Switzerland
Trade topic
Accession
Start Date
End Date
Duration (days)
10
selection process
To take part in this training, observer governments will be requested to nominate candidates directly involved in accession negotiations, particularly, in market access negotiations on trade in services. Considering the virtual nature of this course, approximately 50 participants will be selected for this course.
Pre-requisite
Participants will be requested to complete the WTO e-learning course on Trade in Services before or throughout the duration of the virtual training. Non-completion of the e-learning course prior to the training shall not prevent them from participating in the training. The successful completion of the e-learning course as well as attendance in 85% of sessions of this virtual course are required for receiving a certificate.
Target Audience
Government officials
Language
English
Key Result
2. Acceding governments/territories are participating in accession negotiations
Invited Members and Observers:
Algeria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Belarus
Bhutan
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Comoros
Curaçao
Equatorial Guinea
Ethiopia
Iran
Iraq
Lebanese Republic
Libya
Sao Tomé and Principe
Serbia
Somalia
South Sudan
Sudan
Syrian Arab Republic
Timor-Leste
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan