RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/COMTD/W/36
18 February 1998
(98-0575)
Committee on Trade and Development
Nineteenth Session6 March 1998
REPORT ON TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND TRAINING: 1997
Note by the Secretariat
I. INTRODUCTION
The number of WTO technical cooperation and training activities carried out in 1997 (229)
underwent an unprecedented increase (85 per cent).  These activities took place in 106 countries and
covered most WTO Members, countries in accession, countries that have expressed an interest injoining the WTO and nearly all least-developed co untries.  The increase in number of activities
compared to previous years has largely been made possible through extra-budgetary contributions by
donors to the WTO Trust Fund. This fund received major contributions in 1996 and in 1997, thus
facilitating the broadening and deepening of technical assistance provided.  During 1997, extra-
budgetary contributions constituted nearly three-quarters of total funding of all technical cooperationactivities.
The guidelines for technical cooperation, adopted in October 1996, and the implementation
modalities, adopted in November 1997, provide guidance on the delivery of such assistance.  While
respecting the demand-driven approach, a geographical balance is maintained in the delivery of
assistance and priority given to least-developed countries, and to low-income economies.  A three-year plan, including budgetary implications, was submitted to the Committee in Autumn of 1997,
mapping out activities that have been requested by beneficiary countries for upcoming years.  This
proved to be a valuable tool in planning and implementing technical cooperation activities.  The
contribution of this three-year plan to enhancing the efficiency in delivering such assistance is
expected to further improve in future, with the ability of Members to propose individual events
sufficiently in advance.
In this report on technical cooperation provided in 1997 and the use of extra-budgetary
resources, Chapter II provides a broad overview of activities carried out, their characteristics and
regional distribution; Chapter III addresses more specifically the subject matters covered in these
activities; Chapter IV focuses on the High Level Meeting for Least-Developed Countries and its
follow-up; Chapter V elaborates further on regional/national activities and programmes, including
their funding. Chapter VI elaborates on the cooperation with other international organizations in thefield of technical assistance. Chapter VII covers the Trade Policy Courses.
II. REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF TECHNICAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES
1
Since January 1997, a total of 229 technical cooperation activities have been organized, which
involved most Divisions in the WTO. This compares with 124 activities in 1996, amounting to an
                                                     
1Full details on all technical cooperatio n activities are provided in the Annex.WT/COMTD/W/36
Page 2
increase of some 85 per cent. These activities were held in 106 countries, 79 of which were WTO
Members, 21 in the process accession, while the remaining 6 countries were either observer or had
expressed interest in joining the WTO.  Out of the 106 countries where technical assistance activities
were held, 94 were developing countrie s, of which 14 were least-developed2 .  As many of the
technical cooperation activities took place at the sub-regional or regional level, WTO activities
registered as having taken place in one particular country in fact covered participants from a numberof other countries e.g. APEC, ASEAN, CARICOM,  ALADI, SADC, thus broadening the number of
beneficiary countries of such assistance. Several countries benefited from more than one activity,
particularly when general dissemination seminars were followed up by technical missions or
workshops.
Table 1 gives a regional breakdown of where activities were carried out
3, showing that while
major efforts were directed towards assisting African countries, which benefitted from almost one
third of all activities (66) in 1997 (more than 50 per cent increase over 1996), activities for countriesin other regions also increased  and sometimes doubled. Technical assistance activities included 53
held in Asia and the Pacific, 34 held in Europe, 58 in America and the Caribbean, 18 in the Middle
East.
TABLE 1
Technical Cooperation Activities per Region
Areas 1995 1996 1997 Total
Africa 20 43 66 129
Asia 20 28 53 101
Europe 17 16 34 67
North/Latin America
and the Caribbean16 26 58 100
Middle East 6 11 18 35
Total 79 124 229 432
With respect to the modes of delivery or type of activity covered by the WTO, Table 2 shows
that the majority of activities in 1997 consisted of participation in or contribution to technical
cooperation workshops and conferences (78), technical missions (55), regional seminars (52) and
national seminars (44).  Compared to 1996, the number of workshops and conferences in which the
Secretariat participated increased by over 50 per cent. The explanations provided in last year's report
                                                     
2The WTO currently counts 29 Members that are recognized as Least-Developed Countries.
3It should be noted that Table 1 now contains one category for "Asia/Pacific" rather than "Asia" and
"Oceania" and refers to "North/Latin America and Caribbean", rather than "Latin America and Caribbean", toinclude WTO's participation in worksh ops and conferences in North America.WT/COMTD/W/36
Page 3
for this increase, i.e. the need to assess the impl ications of the Agreements on a national level in a
broader and sometimes more specific way, continue to prevail.  As can be seen in part IV of the
Annex, the topics of the workshops, conferences, round tables, training courses are wide-ranging and
generally deal in-depth with specific issues.  Also, the expertise of the WTO Secretariat in specific
fields has increasingly been solicited in activities organized by other bodies. In the same vein, the
number of technical missions nearly tripled from 19 in 1996 to 55 in 1997, indicating a demand forspecific assistance.
TABLE 2
Technical Cooperation Activities per Type4
Type of ActivityArea
YearAfrica Asia/
PacificEurope Latin/
North America and
CaribbeanMiddle East Total
National Seminar1995
19961997Total7
1313337
47
188
14
137
1016334
14933
2944
106
Regional Seminar 1995
19961997Total3
7
14248
7
13281
2696
8
16300
23518
265296
Technical Missions 1995
19961997Total10
9
21403
5
12200
1892
19
121
35916
195590
Workshops,Conferences,Symposia, TrainingCourses1995
19961997Total0
1418322
1221358
1216361
7
17251
56
1212
5078
140
All Activities 1995
19961997Total20
4366
12920
2853
101 17
16346716
2658
1006
11183579
124229432
Technical cooperation activities in Africa were mainly delivered in the form of technical
missions (21), workshops and conferences (18), regional seminars (14) and national seminars (14).
The increase in the number of technical missions (up from 9 in 1996) can be explained by the
implementation of the Integrated Programme for Africa (Cf Chapter V), which moved from stage I to
stage II, and during which technical expertise was provided in specific areas for purposes ofinstitutional and human capacity building.  In Asia and the Pacific the total number of activities
                                                     
4In some case, several technical cooperation activities were jointly in one mission.  The total number of
activities therefore does not necessarily correspond to the number of missions carried out in each region.WT/COMTD/W/36
Page 4
almost doubled from 28 to 53; most of the technical cooperation was delivered through workshops
and conferences (21) and regional seminars (13).  In North/Latin America and the Caribbean, the
number of activities more than doubled to a total of 58, with an even distribution between national
seminars (16), regional seminars (16) and workshops and conferences (17).  Relatively fewer
technical missions took place (9) in that region.  Out of the 18 activities held in the Middle East, most
consisted of workshops and conferences (6) and technical missions (5). In Europe, technicalcooperation activities were mostly delivered in the form of workshops (16) and technical missions (8).
These technical missions often focused on Central and Eastern European Countries in relation to their
accession to the WTO. It would thus appear that while the mode of delivery can vary among regions,
each region continued to be covered by a variety of activities.
III. TECHNICAL COOPERATION: SUBJECTS COVERED
1. Implementation of WTO Obligations
Table 3 shows the technical cooperation activities carried out by the Secretariat from the
angle of the subject matters specifically covere d in the seminars (workshops etc.) and the WTO
Divisions that were involved in carrying them out .  It can be observed that technical assistance
activities were related in a cross-cutting manner to the World Trade Organization and the Multilateral
Trading System (40) in general and more specialised activities, including Services (45), Rules (29),
TRIPs (20), dissemination of the "Business Guide" on the Uruguay Round (activity carried out jointlywith ITC) (19), Accession (18), Market Access (13), Agriculture (12), Sanitary and Phytosanitary
Measures (9),  Use of Information Technologies (7).
Several new categories have been introduced in the 1997 table, including "The Use of
Technologies for Development", the "High-level Meeting: Preparation and Follow-up", "Accession"
and "Investment".  Activities directly relating to the last subject are now reported separately, given thecreation of a Working Group on the subject and the number of events relating to that topic in which
the Secretariat was called upon to participate.  The category "High Level Meeting", which was held in
October 1997 (Cf Chapter IV) has been introduced, because it required preparatory missions and
implied a series of follow-up events in the area of technical assistance.  The category "Accession" has
now been mentioned because of the frequency with which this area was covered as a specific topic.All the activities related to the Integrated ITC/UNCTAD/WTO Programme have been covered under
each specific subject matter.
The figures clearly show that an important increase in the number of technical seminars took
place.  Most WTO Divisions were associated with the technical cooperation activities, thus allowing
countries to best benefit from available expertise in the Secretariat.  The subject most covered in 1997relates to services (GATS), which can be explained by the negotiations in the area of basic
telecommunications and financial services that were successfully concluded in 1997.  A series of eight
regional seminars organized by the Secretariat were financed from a Dutch contribution to the WTO
Trust Fund, in which explanations were provided on the negotiations and assistance given in the
scheduling of commitments.  These seminars covered most developing countries and economies in
transition.  Other areas in which technical assistance activities increased significantly relates to rules,
market access, accession and technologies for development.  However, relative to 1996 there was aconsiderable increase in most areas.  Dissemination of information on the WTO more generally was
maintained at an even level although if WTO participation in ITC "Business Guide" seminars are
included also this type of activity should increase.WT/COMTD/W/36
Page 5
TABLE 3
Technical Cooperation Activities: Subjects Covered and WTO Divisions' Participation
SUBJECT DIVISION(S) 1996 1997
Services Services, Technical Cooperation, Accession, Economic
Research74 5
World Trade Organization and the Multilateral
Trading SystemAccession, Legal Affairs, Rules, Technical
Cooperation, Development, Accession, Intellectual
Property and Investment39 40
Rules,  (Dumping, AD, SUBS. & CVD,
Safeguards)Legal Affairs, Rules, Technical Cooperation, Services 10 29
TRIPs Intellectual Property and Investment 16 20
Business Guide Technical Cooperation 12 19
Accession Accession, Agriculture, Legal Affairs, Rules, Market
Access-1 8
Market Access Market Access, Technical Cooperation, Agriculture 2 13
Agriculture Agriculture, Technical Cooperation 5 12
High-Level Meeting, Preparation and
Follow-upTechnical Cooperation, Development, DG's Office - 12
SPS Agriculture 5 9
Textiles and Clothing Textiles and Clothing, Technical Cooperation 4 8
Investment Intellectual Property and Investment - 8
Use of Technologies for Development Technical Cooperation, Information and Media
Relations, Translation and Documentation-7
Notification Requirements Technical Cooperation 8 6
TBT Trade and Environment 3 6
Schedules, Harmonized System Market Access, Technical Cooperation 3 6
Dispute Settlement Legal Affairs, Technical Cooperation 4 5
Trade and Environment Trade and Environment 2 4
Government Procurement Intellectual Property and Investment 2 2WT/COMTD/W/36
Page 6
2. Information Technologies for Development Project
The World Trade Organization and the World Bank have initiated a project that uses
Information Technologies to better enable decision makers in developing countries to understand and
to make use of the rules and mechanisms of the WTO for the benefit of their countries.  This project is
financed by participating organizations and by the Governments of Norway and the Netherlands. It
will enable developing country decision-makers to have permanent on-line access to electronictraining, education and information tools conceived specifically for them; and to maintain an on-
going, electronic contact with the WTO so they can keep abreast of new developments.  This is made
possible by providing these countries with access to a document database of over 50,000 WTO
working documents.  By using this WTO database trade officials in developing countries capitals can
have access to the same information available to officials in other WTO Member countries.  The
document database is updated daily and can be accessed via the Internet 24 hours per day from
anywhere on the globe.  Another core component of the project is the creation of a library ofinteractive guides.  Each guide will enable the user to acquire knowledge about the subject being
treated through an interactive approach using elec tronic links and the capacity for search for specific
topics.  The guides will be made available to target groups that either have or don't have Internet
connectivity.  Those with Internet connection will receive the guides by e-mail or will be able to down
load them from a special Internet site. As a result of this project missions were held in 7 countries,mainly LDCs to provide computer hard- and softwa re, link them to the Internet and provide training
in using the technology and access the content available through the WTO website ( www.wto.org ), as
well as to the WTO/World Bank website ( www.itd.org) .
3. Notifications
In the Singapore Ministerial Declaration, Ministers noted, inter alia , that compliance with
notification requirements had not been fully satisfactory.  This could be explained by difficulties
many developing country Members encountered with the expanded notification obligations contained
in the WTO Agreements.  Because the WTO system relies on mutual monitoring as a means to assess
implementation, Members which had not submitted notifications in a timely manner, or whose
notifications were not complete, were invited to do so.
While the table shows a decrease in the frequency with which notifications were addressed as
a specific topic in missions, it should be noted that, in order to raise awareness on Members'
notification obligations, the Secretariat almost systematically included a special module on
notification requirements in national as well as in regional seminars.  Upon request, the Secretariat
organized technical missions to assist Members in complying with their notification obligations.  Inaddition, this area was regularly covered in the assistance provided to Geneva-based delegations.
A Workshop (the third of its kind) on notifications was organized in Geneva on
1 to 3 December 1997.  The objective of the workshop was to provide trade policy officials from
developing countries with detailed explanations on the notification requirements of the WTO legal
system, and to facilitate understanding thereof, thereby contributing to achieving more effective
participation of Members in the multilateral trading system.  The Workshop was primarily intended
for trade policy officials from developing countries, but the meeting was also open to officials fromother Members and to countries in the process of accession.  In total, 35 participants took part in this
third Workshop, representing 26 countries. Participants to the Workshop often establish direct
contacts with Secretariat staff responsible for a specific area to follow-up on the notification
obligations.
Two new modalities were explored in order to allow officials that could not be physically
present at the Workshop to benefit from the information provided, or some to even participate in the
workshop from capitals.  First, the proceedings of the workshop were taped and based on this
material, video-cassettes were prepared for distribution to WTO Members and acceding countries.WT/COMTD/W/36
Page 7
Second, as a very first experiment, and thanks to the cooperation of the Instituto Tecnologico of
Monterrey (Mexico) and its partners, some officials based in selected Latin American cities were able
to follow the workshop live, via video conference.  The proceedings of the meeting were broadcasted
directly by satellite and officials could pose questions by phone/fax to the presenters as if they were
physically present.
4. Dissemination of the Business Guide
It is recalled that in 1995, the ITC jointly with the Commonwealth Secretariat prepared a
publication entitled  "Business Guide to the Uruguay Round".  This publication was aimed at
explaining in simple terms the improved and strengthened rule-based system that emerged from the
Uruguay Round negotiations.  Its main purpose was to assist the business communities in developing
countries to identify the new challenges and market opportunities in the trading system and the
implications of the Agreements for these countries.
ITC has organized, in cooperation with local chambers of commerce and/or trade
associations, a programme of dissemination that included 28 national seminars held in developing
countries in 1997.  The WTO Secretariat has actively participated with at least one resource person in
most of the dissemination efforts of the results of the Uruguay Round undertaken by the ITC.
5. Dispute Settlement
In accordance with Article 27.3 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the
Settlement of Disputes (DSU), the Technical Co operation and Training Division, jointly with the
Legal Affairs Division, organized the Ninth and Tenth  Special Training Courses on Dispute
Settlement Procedures and Practices.  These courses were held from 10 to 14 February 1997 and from
7 to 10 October 1997 respectively.  The objective of these courses was to brief and train officials from
developed and developing country Members as well as non-Members in the process of accession.The programme for both courses included a general presentation of the GATT/WTO system, followed
by detailed presentations of the dispute settlement procedures and practices.  The courses also
contained an important practical component requiring active involvement and interaction from the
participants, through case studies and simulated panel exercises.  A total of 60 participants took part
in these courses.  In view of the high demand for attendance for these courses, the Secretariatenvisages to develop over the years 1998 and 1999, subj ect to appropriate funding, a series of regional
and sub-regional workshops on dispute settlement procedures and practices, for government officials
of developing countries.
During the year 1997, developing countries continued to be actively involved in dispute
settlement proceedings, both as complainants and as defendants.  In this context, the Secretariat hascontinued to provide legal advice and assistance to a number of developing countries in various stages
of the dispute settlement process, consistent with the mandate given to the WTO Secretariat under
Article 27.2 of the DSU.  This assistance is provided by the Technical Cooperation and Training
Division, principally through the use of consultants.
6. Briefing Sessions
Briefing sessions for Geneva-based delegations and visiting officials of least-developed
countries, developing countries, economies in transition and countries in the process of accession areorganized on a regular basis.  These briefings are provided either to individual delegations and
officials or in the form of briefing sessions for several delegations.  They constitute a very important
aspect of technical assistance and address specific concerns of individual or groups of countries.
They also assure a follow-up of missions, seminars and workshops that are held in these countries.
Most secretariat Divisions are involved in such ongoing activities in Geneva.WT/COMTD/W/36
Page 8
7. Accession
During 1997 the Secretariat dealt with greatly increased requests  for technical assistance
missions from the 30 countries in the process of accession to the WTO, as well as from other
countries contemplating accession. Technical missions  were organized to assist these countries.  The
missions focused on  advising and explaining the benefits of the multilateral trading system as well as
practical and technical issues relating to accession.
The increased complexity of the ongoing accession negotiations also requires that acceding
governments provide highly technical data and information covering sectors like TRIPs, Agriculture,
State Trading, and Services, as well as notifications on Customs Valuation, Technical Barriers to
Trade and Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.  Both during missions and from Geneva, the
Secretariat assists in the compilation and tabling of the needed information in agreed formats like the
Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime, replies to questions from WTO Members, market access
offers, and tables of support measures in Agriculture.
8. Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM)
Technical assistance was provided to several developing countries in the preparation of their
trade policy reviews.  While the frequency of reviews of developing and least-developed countries is
lower than for developed countries, it represents a major exercise; the number of requests has thus
gradually increased.  The Secretariat is prepared to provide assistance in this area to all requestingdeveloping countries, in particular African and least-developed.
9. Provision of Technical Information
The Secretariat has continued to prepare studies on individual products of interest to
developing and least-developed countries.  Upon request, data on trade flows, tariffs and non-tariff
measures have often been made available.  Information was also provided towards the assessment ofother countries' schedules on market access in goods of relevance to developing countries' export
interests as well as data designed to help them assess the impact on their services trade of specific
commitments on services made by developed countries.
In addition, comprehensive studies on the implications of the WTO Agreements for
requesting individual countries or groups of countries, as well as background notes on specific issuesin different areas of the negotiations, were prepared.
10. The WTO - A Training Package
The Secretariat is about to finalize a computer-based training package on the World Trade
Organization using over 350 "interactive" slides. Each slide has a title and contains bullet points with
a short explanation for each bullet point.  This package can be used to introduce the WTO in the same
manner as through a general seminar and covers all the concepts developed in a normal 4 to 5 day
seminar organized by TCTD.  It consists of a set of nine modules, each of which corresponds to a
three-four hour seminar lecture, and includes a review section using the Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ) approach.  The last module - module 10 - is still under development and will contain a
referenced version of the Final Act as well as other key WTO documents.
The main support of this package will be a CD-ROM, although it will also be possible upon
request to have it on diskette.  Moreover, an on-line version is available on the Internet through theWTO Internet site wto.org.WT/COMTD/W/36
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The same material contained in the CD-ROM will be made available in printed form as well,
i.e. a "book" and a set of slides.  This material can be used in two ways: (i) to explain in a structured
manner the work of the WTO or (2) to help trainers organize their presentations using the slides.  In
the former case, no slides are needed while in the latter the "book" is used to highlight the key
concepts that should be elaborated in presenting each bullet point of the slide.
IV. HIGH LEVEL MEETING FOR LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
At their first Conference in Singapore in December 1996, WTO Ministers adopted the
Comprehensive and Integrated WTO Plan of Action for the Least-Developed Countries  which
"envisaged a closer cooperation between the WTO and other multilateral agencies assisting least-
developed countries" in the area of trade. Pursuant to the  Plan of Action , aimed at improving the
overall capacity of least-developed countries to respond to the challenges and opportunities offered by
the trading system, it was agreed by the WTO, UNCTAD and ITC Secretariats, in collaboration with
the staff of the IMF, the World Bank and the UNDP, that an Integrated Framework for the provisionof trade-related technical assistance, including human and institutional capacity-building, for
supporting trade and trade-related activities of the least-developed countries and including efforts to
enhance the supply response of these countries should be drawn up and applied on a case-by-case
basis to meet the needs identified by individual least-developed countries in the area of trade.
As a result of the Singapore Ministerial Conference, a High Level Meeting on Integrated
Initiatives for Least-Developed Countries' Trade and Development was held in Geneva from
27 to 28 October 1997, to which all Least-Developed Countries were invited with the participation of
the WTO, UNCTAD, ITC, IMF, World Bank and UNDP.  In addition, several other agencies and
organizations dealing with trade and development aspects participated.  This High Level meeting was
financed from specific contributions made by Members for this purpose to the WTO Trust Fund.  TheMeeting endorsed the Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance, including for
Human and Institutional Capacity-Building, to Support Least-Developed Countries in Their Trade and
Trade-Related Activities.  The Integrated Framework seeks to increase the benefits that least-
developed countries derive from the trade-related technical assistance available to them from the six
agencies involved in designing this Framework, as well as from other multilateral, regional andbilateral sources, with a view to assisting them  to enhance their trade opportunities, to respond to
market demands, and to integrate into the multilateral trading system.
Both in preparation of and as a follow-up to the High Level Meeting technical assistance
missions visited least-developed countries that had requested assistance from the agencies involved in
carrying out their Needs Assessments.  Thus, missions  visited Africa, Asia and the Caribbean (Haiti).
These missions were financed from the special contributions to the WTO Trust Fund.  Following the
procedures agreed to by the agencies, the needs assessments were discussed in country-round tables.
Further general and specific assistance will thus be provided to countries engaged in this process and
to respond to the needs identified, including training seminars on the WTO and the multilateral
trading system.  At the meeting, Hong Kong, China announced a donation of US$1.25 million to the
WTO Trust Fund specifically for the purpose of providing technical assistance under this Integrated
Framework.
Participants in the meeting were provided  demonstrations of the WTO Information
Technology for Development Project and results achieved to date.  As a result the WTO was
encouraged to extend the project to all LDC Members.  Efforts will be undertaken to link up all
29 LDCs to the Internet by the end of 1998.WT/COMTD/W/36
Page 10
V. REGIONAL/NATIONAL PROGRAMMES AND SPECIAL FUNDED PROJECTS
While technical assistance activities are largely financed from the regular budget of the WTO,
extra-budgetary resources are available through donors' contributions to the WTO Trust Fund.  These
contributions are often earmarked for specific activities or programmes, which mostly would not be
carried out in the absence of these funds.  This chapter summarizes the main activities carried out in
different regions and for which extra-budgetary resources were used.
1. Africa
(i) Technical Cooperation for Africa in the Multilateral Trading System
Various initiatives were undertaken in 1997 by the WTO as well as in cooperation with other
organizations, to address the particular situation of Africa5, including possible avenues and
perspectives for product and market diversification, as well as promoting the development of new
forms of joint action designed to help secure a greater share of world trade for the African continent.
These largely flowed from decisions taken at the African Ministerial Trade Conference on theUruguay Round results held in Tunis in October 1994, at which time participating countries
emphasized the need for and requested increased technical assistance by international organizations.
A programme was established in close cooperation with ITC and UNCTAD, entitled
"Technical Cooperation for Africa in the Multilateral Trading System, Main Activities by the
International Trade Centre (UNCTAD/ITC), the United Nations Conference on Trade andDevelopment (UNCTAD) and the World Trade Orga nization".  In pursuance of this, a number of
activities have been undertaken in Africa by the three organizations, in addition to which comes the
Integrated Programme mentioned under (ii) below.
Since the establishment of the WTO Trust Fund, the activities have been largely financed
from the Norwegian contribution to this Fund, with particular focus on Sub Saharan Africa.  Suchactivities included the second workshop on TRIPs for French Speaking African countries, held in
Geneva, two regional workshops on rules (anti-dumping, subsidies and countervailing duties and
safeguards) held in Senegal for French speaking African countries and in Zimbabwe for English
speaking African countries, one regional workshop on market access, held in Namibia for English
speaking African countries; also included was a series of national seminars, workshops and technicalmissions carried out in a large number of countries.  These were either general or specific, confined to
topics identified in fact-finding missions carried out in 1996. Three regional seminars were held on
GATS negotiations in progress, focusing on the negotiations in financial services and financed from
the Netherlands' contribution to the WTO Trust Fund.  These seminars aimed at assisting developing
countries in negotiations in financial services, which were concluded in December 1997.  Allactivities were geared towards institutional and capacity building. African countries have been direct
beneficiaries of  the WTO/World Bank Project on Information Technology for Trade and
Development, financed through the Norwegian and Dutch contribution to the Trust Fund.
                                                     
5Cf Report on Technical Cooperation (WT/COMTD/W/14), prepared for the sixth session of the
Committee on Trade and Development (15 May 1996).WT/COMTD/W/36
Page 11
(ii) Integrated Technical Assistance Programme in Selected Least-Developed and Other
African Countries
In order to provide a comprehensive response to the range of trade-related technical
cooperation needs of African countries in the context of the new multilateral trading system,  ITC,
UNCTAD and WTO are engaged in an inter-agency cooperation.  This process began in January 1996
pursuant to a mission by the Director-General of WTO and the Executive Director of ITC toCôte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya and Tunisia. On th e eve of UNCTAD IX, the Director-General of WTO,
the Secretary-General of UNCTAD and the Executive Director of ITC publicly launched a Joint
Integrated Programme in Midrand, South Africa.  The overall objective of the Integrated Programme,
facilitated by an integrated technical assistance approach, is to help African countries participate more
effectively in the multilateral trading system.  The Programme initially targets eight African countries,
i.e. Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda.  Experience
with the Programme in these eight countries will serve to develop its content and possibly extend it, asappropriate to other African countries.
The Programme is based on a strong commitment by ITC, UNCTAD and WTO to their close
coordination and cooperation, characterized by joint working relationships in the formulation and
implementation of programme activities.  This cooperation among the three organizations should
optimize the effectiveness of available resources and respond to concerns expressed by theirrespective memberships for improved cooperation among them.  Meetings have taken place at least
once monthly among the three organizations, comprising the technical cooperation heads of the
agency and relevant staff.
The objectives of the Integrated Programme will be achieved through a strengthened capacity
to understand the changing multilateral trading system and to derive maximum advantage from it aswell as through selective enhancement of export readiness.  Activities include the training of national
trainers in the full range of WTO rules and related dissemination seminars and workshops; advice on
steps to conform national laws and regulations to undertakings of WTO membership; support for
developing policies and strategies to exploit national export potential;  establishment of an
information capability, including trade points, as needed, and related reference centres;  and otherselected trade support service strengthening, as we ll as limited pilot activities to transform policies
and strategies into action.
The Integrated Programme has led the agencies to focus related post-Uruguay Round
programmes on the eight countries.  WTO, for example, has held several national seminars in the
eight targeted countries, involving notification obligations, assessment of the needs for adaptingnational legislation, and other aspects relating to Members' obligations under WTO rules or the
conduct of their national trade policies.  Similarly ITC, often in collaboration with WTO, has held
several of its "Business Guide" seminars and Uruguay Round-related technical workshops in the eight
countries over the past year.
Following joint ITC/UNCTAD/WTO fact-finding missions undertaken in 1996 in the eight
countries to assess trade-related human resources and institutional development needs and to select
trainers for the training programme, comprehensive needs assessment and programming missionswere held in 1996/97.  As a result of these missions, reports for each of the eight countries were
prepared and shared with recipient countries.  On the basis of this interchange and selective additional
field work, the project proposals are designed to be implemented in a two-three year time frame.
Between October and December 1997, special missions were carried out to seven of the eight
selected countries to install computer equipment and provide training to trade officials on how toaccess Internet information resources.  Other equipment and training enables each country to operate
its own WTO Reference Centres on the Multilateral Trading System.  These Centres are designed toWT/COMTD/W/36
Page 12
help the country in building a national capacity for the understanding and management of their
membership in WTO.  The reference centres have been equipped with computers, linking them
directly to the internet and WTO-on line services. In this way, a direct access to any information
pertaining to the WTO or other international organizations can be obtained instantly. Moreover, it
facilitates direct interaction between the WTO and the country.  Officials have been initiated to the
new technologies and trained in getting access to relevant information. Information and publicationson the multilateral trading system are also available.  The establishment of the reference centre was
financed from Project on Information Technology fo r Trade and Development, referred to earlier.
Between 24-28 November 1997 a training course for 24 participants from the four English
speaking African countries (Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania) took place at the WTO Secretariat.
From each country two representatives from the public and two from the private sector were invited
as well as two representatives from training institutes and/or academia.  It was the first event under
the joint WTO/UNCTAD/ITC Integrated Technical Assistance Programme for Least-Developed and
Other African Countries.  It was also the first component of a joint training course, with the other
training taking place at UNCTAD and ITC, each lasting one week, immediately following the WTO
training event.  The WTO provided the basic information on the WTO multilateral Trading System in
the first week, UNCTAD focused on development issues in the second week, as well as on
pedagogical training, whereas ITC focused on the business related aspects of international trade in thelast week.
The main objective of the WTO component of the training programme was to familiarize
participants with the WTO Agreements and assist trainers in preparing for the dissemination of
information on the multilateral trading system of the WTO in their home country.  While the
programme mostly focused on training through presentations and discussion, time was allocated toinitiate participants in computer-based electronic training material, which can be used by trainers to
conduct seminars in capitals, as well for self training of trainers.  Demonstrations were organized and
computers made available to use the training material either on CD-Rom, which was made available
to each participant, or using Internet.  In addition to the CD-Rom, paper copies were made available
to each participant, which also contained a set of transparencies that will be of direct use in thepresentations that the trainers are expected to make in their home country.
Discussions were pursued between the three organizations with regard to establishing a
Common Trust Fund for the Joint Integrated Technical Assistance Programme to provide a central
point for the deposit of contributions to the Joint Programme, to improve transparency in the
complementary use of contributions received a nd to increase efficiency in the identification,
formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of individual programme activities, including
country projects.
2. Asia and the Pacific
Several regional activities took place in Asia and the Pacific that were financed from the
regular WTO budget or from contributions to the WTO Trust Fund, earmarked for that region.  These
include:
(i) A regional seminar for Asian developing countries, which was financed through a
voluntary contribution by the Government of Japan and organized in Jakarta,
Indonesia (March 1997).
(ii) Two regional seminars on GATS negotiations, focusing in particular on financial
services, were financed from the Netherlands' contribution to the WTO Trust Fund.
They were held in Jakarta, Indonesia (July '97) and in Colombo, Sri Lanka (July '97).WT/COMTD/W/36
Page 13
(iii) A regional seminar on the WTO and the Multilateral Trading System for Asia-Pacific
countries, held in Fiji and financed from the New Zealand contribution to the WTO
Trust Fund.  These funds are earmarked for training activities and assistance to
Pacific Island nations to meet WTO obligations or to implement accession
requirements.  Another such regional semi nar is planned for 1998, to be followed by
national seminars in several Asia-Pacific Island countries.
(iv) As a result of a Memorandum of Understanding that was concluded between the
Government of the Republic of Singapore and the WTO concerning a joint training
programme for developing countries, training activities were undertaken in Singapore
in January 1998 with the active participation of WTO experts.
(v) The WTO provided experts in two training courses held in Seoul, Korea (June and
November 1997) on the WTO and the multilateral trading system for developing
countries. These courses were organized and financed by Korea.
(vi) Needs assessment missions were carried out in several least-developed Asian
countries, whether or not Member to the WTO. These missions were financed from
special contributions made by Members for the High Level Meeting.
3. North/Latin America and the Caribbean
While most activities carried out in Latin America and the Caribbean were funded from the
regular WTO technical assistance budget, some activities were financed through the WTO Trust
Fund.  This includes a regional seminar in Venezuela in July and one in Trinidad and Tobago in
September on GATS negotiations in progress, which were financed from the Dutch contribution to the
WTO Trust Fund.  Also, WTO experts participated in activities financed by other agencies and
bodies, based on cost-sharing arrangements and following invitations from other institutions, such asSELA, WIPO, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Commonwealth Secretariat.
In the fall of 1997, a workshop was held with the OAS which offered to finance a series of
training and technical cooperation activities for Central and Latin American countries.  This training
will mostly take place in Washington, DC (USA) with the active participation of experts from the
WTO Secretariat.
Throughout 1997, discussions were held with the Inter-American Development Bank, which
has offered to finance technical cooperation and training activities in the region.
A needs assessment mission was carried out in Haiti, financed from contributions made by
Members for the High Level Meeting.
4. Eastern and Central European and Central Asian Countries
Technical cooperation activities carried out in Eastern and Central European and Central
Asian Countries included seminars, workshops and training, some of which were financed through
extra-budgetary resources.  In particular, as detailed below, Switzerland and the United States made
funds available for special training courses covering different countries in the region. Separately,
through the Dutch contribution to the WTO Trust Fund a regional workshop on rules was organized in
Hungary for Eastern and Central European Countries. The WTO also participated in a regional
seminar organized by the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, and will organize and finance anothersuch regional seminar in 1998, through the Netherlands' contribution to the WTO Trust Fund.WT/COMTD/W/36
Page 14
VI. JOINT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS
Since the establishment of the WTO, several initiatives were taken by the WTO, as well as
jointly among the WTO, UNCTAD and the ITC in an effort to enhance the overall efficiency and
effectiveness in delivering technical assistance to developing countries.  These efforts were also
aimed at bringing together into a more coherent framework a range of activities by the threeorganizations already present in their mandates and work programmes.  As a result of decisions taken
by Ministers at the Singapore Ministerial Conference in December 1996, they have largely been
geared towards African countries in general and to least-developed countries in particular.  These joint
efforts have been particularly noticeable in the design and implementation of all aspects of the
Integrated Programme for Africa as well as in the preparation of and follow-up to the High Level
Meeting for Least Developed Countries.
Moreover, the WTO Secretariat has increasingly made available the services of its officials
for participation in seminars, workshops or courses sponsored by other organizations, in particular the
ITC, UNCTAD, the World Bank, the IMF, United Nations Regional Economic Commissions and the
Commonwealth Secretariat. It has also coordinated participation by WTO officials in conferences and
other events organized by these international organizations.  The WTO has continued its close
cooperation in delivering technical assistance with specialized organizations and bodies such asWIPO, ISO, FAO, WCO.
VIII. TRADE POLICY COURSES
Since its inception, the WTO has continued GATT's practice of funding and organizing
residential training courses in Geneva for developing countries on trade policy, international trade law
and the multilateral trading system.  Offered alternately in English, French and Spanish, the Coursesare open to 24 officials per Course from developing countries, which are Members or Observers of the
WTO.
In 1997, the 5th WTO Trade Policy Course (TPC) in French was held from 27 January to
2 May
6 and the 6th TPC in English from 25 August to 28 November.7  The Course programme is
comprehensive and is specifically designed to improve knowledge of WTO matters, negotiatingtechniques and skills and broaden awareness of trade policy formulation and implementation.  The
knowledge and skills acquired are designed to help participating officials improve the effectiveness of
their work in their own administrations and to promote a more active participation of their countries in
the WTO.  A full description of the Courses is available under the training section of both the WTO
website ( www.wto.org ) and the WTO/World Bank website ( www.itd.org ).
                                                     
6 Participating countries were:  Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Benin, Cambodia, Cape Verde,
China, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Haïti, Lao PDR, Madagascar, Mali,
Morocco, Mauritius, Nigeria, Senegal, Syria, Tanzania, Tunisia and Viet Nam.
7 Participating countries were:  Bangladesh, China,  Egypt, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya,
Maldives, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka,Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Uganda, Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.WT/COMTD/W/36
Page 15
In addition, two Special Courses were organized for trade officials from economies in
transition.  The main objectives of these courses were to provide participants with a good basic
understanding of trade theory and trade policy instruments, a full and up-to-date knowledge of the
WTO and its work and a practical understanding of the challenges of accession.
(i) The Special Trade Policy Course for officials from Eastern and Central European and
Central Asian Countries, the seventh of its kind financed by the Swiss Government,was held between 20 May and 11 July 1997, comprising 24 participants from
nineteen countries.
8
(ii) At the request, and with the financial support of the Government of the United States,
a Special Trade Policy Course (the fourth of its kind) was held from 14 April to
7 May 1997 for 24 officials from the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Georgia.
                                                     
8 Participating countries were:  Albania, Azerbaij an, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Estonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Mace donia, Georgia, Kazakstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia,
Lithuania, Moldova, Russian Federation, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.WT/COMTD/W/36
Page 16TECHNICAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN 1997
I. National Seminars: 44
AFRICA ASIA/PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH/LATIN AMERICA MIDDLE EAST
Country and
DateSubject Country and
DateSubject Country and
DateSubject Country and
DateSubject Country and
DateSubject
Mali
24-28/2
TCTD (2)National Seminar on
the WTO and the
Multilateral Trading
SystemCambodia
12-15/5
TCTD (1)National Seminar on
the WTO and the
Multilateral Trading
SystemHungary
9-11/6
IPID (1)Implementation of the
TRIPs AgreementPanama
20-21/1
TCTD (1)Business Guide
Seminar with ITCUnited Arab
Emirates
20-26/5
TCTD (1)Business Guide
Seminar with ITC
Niger
3-7/3
TCTD (2)National Seminar on
the WTO and the
Multilateral Trading
SystemNepal
5-6/6
TCTD (2)National Seminar on
the WTO and the
Multilateral Trading
SystemAzerbaijan
1-3/7
IPID (1)WIPO-EPO Seminar
on the TRIPs
AgreementEl Salvador
23-24/1
TCTD (1)Business Guide
Seminar with ITCIsrael
17-19/6
TSD (2)GATS and Financial
Services Negotiations
Tunisia
10-14/3
TCTD (1)National Seminar on
the WTO and the
Multilateral Trading
SystemLaos
14-18/7
TCTD (1)National Seminar on
the WTO and the
Multilateral Trading
SystemMalta
3-7 November
TCTD (2)
TSD (1)National Seminar on
the WTO and the
Multilateral Trading
SystemPeru
26/1-3/2
RD (1)Trade Remedies
(Rules)Bahrain
13-14/12
TCTD (1)Business Guide
Seminars with ITC
Egypt
22-23/3
IPID (1)Implementation of the
TRIPs AgreementBrunei
Darussalam
6/8
TSD (1)National Seminar on
GATS negotiations in
progressTurkey
1-4/12
TCTD (1)Business Guide
Seminar with ITCHaiti
3-7/2
TCTD (2)National Seminar on
the WTO and theMultilateral Trading
SystemKuwait
17-18/12
TCTD (1)Business Guide
Seminar with ITC
Burkina Faso
7-14/4
TCTD (2)
MAcc (1)Business Guide
Seminar with ITCKazakhstan
17-18/9
TCTD (1)Business Guide
Seminar with ITCColombia
12-20 February
AgD (1)The Agreement on
Agriculture and SPS
Botswana
2-6/6
TCTD (2)Business Guide
Seminar with ITCKyrgyz
Republic
22-23 September
TCTD (1)
TexD (1)Business Guide
Seminar with ITCBrazil
10-12/3
RD (1)WTO National
Seminar on Dumping
Margin Calculation
(Rules)WT/COMTD/W/36
Page 17AFRICA ASIA/PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH/LATIN AMERICA MIDDLE EAST
Country and
DateSubject Country
and DateSubject Country
and DateSubject Country
and DateSubject Country
and DateSubject
Madagascar
1-4/7
TCTD (1)
DD (1)- Business Guide
Seminar with ITC
- Needs Assessment in
Preparation of HLM
for LDCsMongolia
24-26/9
TCTD (1)
RD (1)National Seminar on
the WTO and theMultilateral Trading
SystemVenezuela
10-11/3
AgD (1)The Agreement on
Agriculture
Mauritius
7-10/7
TCTD (1)
DD (1)- Business Guide
Seminar with ITC
- Technical Workshop
on the WTO
AgreementsNetherlands
Antilles
17-22/3
TCTD (1)
TSD (1)National Seminar on
the WTO and the
Multilateral Trading
System
Tunisia
15-19/9
TCTD (1)Business Guide
Seminar with ITCCuba
18-20/3
(DD) (1)GATS
Benin
24-25/9
TCTD (1)National Seminar on
the WTO and the
Multilateral Trading
SystemCosta Rica
8-9/7
TCTD (1)Business Guide
Seminar with ITC
Morocco
21-22/11
TCTD (1)Business Guide
Seminar with ITCParaguay
3-5/9
TCTD (1)- Business Guide
Seminar
with ITC
- Notifications
Nigeria
19-20/11
AgD (2)SPS Venezuela
27-29/10
IPID (1)Implementation of the
TRIPs Agreement
Tunisia
6-10/10
TCTD (1)Business Guide
Seminar with ITCHonduras
6-7/11
TCTD (1)Business Guide
Seminar with ITC
Dominican
Republic
10-11/11
TCTD (1)Business Guide
Seminar with ITCWT/COMTD/W/36
Page 18AFRICA ASIA/PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH/LATIN AMERICA MIDDLE EAST
Country and
DateSubject Country
and DateSubject Country
and DateSubject Country
and DateSubject Country
and DateSubject
Venezuela
11/12
AgD (1)SPS
Cuba
10-12/12
AgD (2)SPSWT/COMTD/W/36
Page 19II. Regional Seminars: 52
AFRICA ASIA/PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH/LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEANMIDDLE EAST
Country and
DateSubject Country and
DateSubject Country and Date Subject Country and
DateSubject Country and
DateSubject
Senegal
8-10/1
TCTD (2)The WTO and the
Multilateral Trading
System for IslamicDevelopment Bank
MembersIndonesia
18-21/3
TCTD (1)
RD (1)
LegD (1)
TSD (1)Regional Seminar for
Asian Developing
Countries on the WTOand the Multilateral
Trading SystemUkraine
21-23/5
AccD (1)
DD (1)
TCTD (1)Black Sea Economic
Cooperation, WTO and
the Multilateral
Trading SystemColombia
3-4/4
AgD (1)The Agreement on
AgricultureUnited Arab
Emirates
24-26 February
TSD (1)Effects of GATS on the
communications sector
of GCC countries
Zimbabwe
21-23/1
AgD (1)Agriculture for Sub-
Saharan AfricaChinese Taipei
31/3-1/4
IPID (1)Government
Procurement Seminaron remedy system
and/or bid challenge
procedures organizedby the Government of
Chinese Taipei under
the APEC's frameworkGermany
2-5/9
TED (1)Seminar on TBT for
Eastern EuropeanCountries organized
jointly with the ISO
and the ITCVenezuela
26-28/5
AgD (1)The Implementation of
the Agreement onAgriculture -
ANDEAN Group
(Bolivia, Colombia,Ecuador, Peru and
Venezuela)Saudi Arabia
7-10/6
TCTD (1)
AccD (1)Assistance to the
Islamic DevelopmentBank Member
countries on accession
to the WTO andimplementation of the
Uruguay Round
Agreements
Senegal
13-15/4
DD (1)World Bank Seminar
on the WTO and Trade
Policy in West AfricaIndia
16-22/3
MAcc (1)Asian Regional HS
Seminar organized bythe World Customs
OrganizationTurkey
29-30/9
TCTD (2)The WTO and the
Multilateral TradingSystem organized by
the Economic
Cooperation
Organization (ECO)Chile
3-4/7
TCTD (1)Trade Policy in Latin
America and the
CaribbeanKuwait
24-26/11
TCTD (1)ESCWA Regional
Seminar on Challengesand Opportunities of
New Trade
Agreements
Zimbabwe
22-24/4
TSD (2)Telecommunications
Development in Sub-
Saharan AfricaFiji
21-25/4
TCTD (2)
AccD (1)Regional Seminar on
the WTO and the
Multilateral TradingSystem for Asia-
Pacific Island countriesTurkey
24-25/11
TCTD (1)
TSD (2)GATS Negotiations in
progress for
Mediterranean, Easternand Central European
and Central Asian
countriesVenezuela
22-23/7
TCTD (1)
TSD (2)GATS Negotiations in
progress for Latin
American countriesWT/COMTD/W/36
Page 20AFRICA ASIA/PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH/LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEANMIDDLE EAST
Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject Country and
DateSubject
Ghana
28/4-2/5
MAcc (1)African Regional HS
Seminar organized by the
World Customs
OrganizationChina
7-9/5
AccD (1)High-Level Meeting on
Asia Pacific
telecommunications
development strategyTurkey
8-12/12
IPID (1)OECD/World Bank
SeminarPeru
30-31/7
DD (1)GATS negotiations in
progress for ANDEAN
countries
Senegal
13-16/5
RD (2)Rules; French-speaking
officials from LDC andAfrican developing
countries (Anti-Dumping,
Subsidies andCountervailing Measures,
Safeguards)Thailand
13-18/5
TED (1)Regional meeting of
experts on the inter-relationship between trade
and environmentTurkey
12/12
MAcc (1)Conference "Border
Crossings" (SouthEast European
Countries Initiative)Trinidad & Tobago
16-24/8
TCTD (1)The WTO and the
Multilateral TradeAgreements organized by
the Commonwealth
Secretariat
Côte d'Ivoire
16-18/7
MAcc (1)
TSD (1)
TCTD (1)Market Access French-
speaking officials fromLDCs and African
developing countriesNew Zealand
23-28/6
TCTD (1)
LegD (1)The WTO and the
Multilateral TradeAgreements for Pacific
Island Forum countries
organized by theCommonwealth
SecretariatArgentina
4-5/9
RD (2)Anti-dumping and
competition policy
Egypt
2-3/9
TCTD (1)
TSD (2)GATS negotiations in
progress for Arab and
African developing
countriesIndonesia
8-10/7
TCTD (1)
TSD (2)GATS negotiations in
progress for Asian
developing countriesTrinidad & Tobago
15-16/9
TCTD (1)
TSD (1)GATS negotiations in
progress for the Caribbean
countries
South Africa
8-9/9
TCTD (1)
TSD (2)GATS negotiations in
progress for Southern
African countriesSri Lanka
29-30/7
TCTD (1)
TSD (2)GATS negotiations in
progress for Asian
developing countriesColombia
22-24/9
AgD (1)SPS for ANDEAN
countries
Côte d'Ivoire
22-23/9
TCTD (1)
TSD (1)GATS negotiations in
progress for French-
speaking African
countriesSingapore
8/8
TSD (1)World Bank Regional
Seminar on
Internationalization of
Financial ServicesCosta Rica
4-5/11
TCTD (1)The WTO and the
Multilateral Trading
System for CACM
countriesWT/COMTD/W/36
Page 21AFRICA ASIA/PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH/LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEANMIDDLE EAST
Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject Country and
DateSubject
Zimbabwe
7-10/10
TCTD (1)
LegD (1)
RD (1)WTO Rules Seminar for
English-speaking (east)
African countriesIndia
30/9-1/10
AgD (1)SPS organized jointly
with Codex/ OIE/IPPC:
Bangladesh, Sri Lanka,
Pakistan, Maldives,
China and NepalJamaica
4-7/11
RD (2)Rules for Caribbean
countries
Tanzania
17-21/11
TCTD (1)
AgD (1)
LegD (1)WTO/World Bank
Regional Seminar on
Agriculture organized incollaboration with the
World BankPhilippines
1-3/12
LegD (1)
AccD (1)The WTO and the
Multilateral Trading
System for acceding
countriesUruguay
6-7/11
DD (1)Regional Trade
Agreements (special and
differential treatment)
ALADI Members
Tunisia
1-3/12
TCTD (1)Agriculture (Islamic
Development Bank)India
15-18/12
TED (1)TBT jointly organized
with  the ISO and the ITC
for Southern AsiaJamaica
19/11
TCTD (1)Lomé Convention
Namibia
15-19/12
TCTD (1)
MAcc (2)Market Access for
English-speaking African
countriesTrinidad & Tobago
24-27/11
TED (1)OAS Seminar on
Standards and theImplementation of the
TBT Agreement for
Caribbean countries
Trinidad & Tobago
9-11/12
AgD (1)OIE Seminar on
Safeguarding AnimalHealth in Trade in
Caribbean
Saint Lucia
15-17/12
TDD (1)
TexD (1)Implementation of
notifications obligations
and procedures:countries members of the
Organization of Eastern
Caribbean States (OECS)WT/COMTD/W/36
Page 22III. Technical Missions: 55
AFRICA ASIA/PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH/LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEANMIDDLE EAST
Country and
DateSubject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject
Kenya
25-28/2
LegD (1)Assist in drafting of
anti-dumping andcountervailing
legislationBangladesh
25-29/1
TSD (1)GATS and
telecommunications
and assistance inpreparation of
commitmentsArmenia
25-30/8
AccD (1)Assistance with regard
to accession to WTOBarbados
8-11/1
TSD (1)Telecommunications
(Services)Saudi Arabia
3-8/4
AccD (1)Assistance with regard
to accession to WTO
Mauritius
17-21/3
RD (1)Assistance in
preparation of anti-
dumping and
countervailing duties
legislationChina
17-22/3
RD (1)
AgD (1)
LegD (1)Technical mission in
relation to China's
accession to WTORomania
15-16/9
TED (1)Standards (TBT) Venezuela
18-19/4
TSD (1)Financial Services Saudi Arabia
5-6/5
MAcc (1)Assistance with regard
to accession to WTO
Senegal
4-10/5
TCTD (1)
RD (1)
MAcc (1)Fact-finding mission
(Subsidies, Anti-
dumping, Customs
Valuation and Market
Access)Singapore
23-24/4
LegD (2)Dispute Settlement Lithuania
5-7/10
AccD (2)Assistance with regard
to accession to WTOEcuador
1/6
TCTD (1)Notifications Jordan
30/6-1/7
AccD (2)Assistance with regard
to accession to WTO
Ghana
9-10/6
AgD (1)
TSD (1)
MAcc (1)Implementation of the
UR Agreements -
Customs/
Services/TBTBangladesh
19-28/5
DG's Office (1)Needs assessment in
the preparation of the
HLM on LDCsCroatia
3-5/11
AccD (1)Assistance with regard
to accession to WTOSuriname
9-12/6
MAcc (1)Harmonized System,
Tariff Schedules and
Art. XXVIII
renegotiationsIsrael
15-16/12
IPID (2)TRIPs
Kenya
24-26/6
TexD (1)
MAcc (1)
TSD (1)Implementation of the
UR Agreements -
Customs/
Services/
TextilesChina
8-13 June
AgD (1)
LegD (1)
TED (1)Technical mission in
relation to China's
accession to WTOEstonia
7-10/11
AccD (1)
MAcc (1)Assistance with regard
to accession to WTODominican
Republic
16-18/6
MAcc (1)Harmonized System
and Art. XXVIII
renegotiationsQatar
6-9/12
TCTD (1)Notifications
Egypt
30/6-2/7
MAcc (1)Tariff schedules,
Harmonized System
and renegotiations
under Art. XXVIIIIndonesia
30/6-7/7
TSD (1)GATS and financial
servicesUkraine
11-16/11
LegD (1)SPS Haiti
11-15/8
TCTD (1)
DD (1)Needs assessment in
the preparation of the
High Level Meeting
on LDCsWT/COMTD/W/36
Page 23AFRICA ASIA/PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH/LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEANMIDDLE EAST
Country and
DateSubject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject
Zimbabwe
7-11/7
TCTD (1)Confederation of
Zimbabwe Industry
(CZI)Sri Lanka
18-21/8
RD (1)Drafting and
implementation ofcontingent trade
remedies legislation
(Rules)Russian
Federation
24-28/11
AccD (2)Assistance with regard
to accession to WTOBolivia
27-28/10
TSD (1)Financial Services;
preparation of
schedules of
commitments
Uganda
4-5/8
AgD (1)
MAcc (1)
TSD (1)Implementation of the
UR AgreementsChinese Taipei
22-25/10
AccD (2)Assistance with
regard to accession to
WTOMoldova
8-9/12
MAcc (1)Customs Valuation;
Preshipment
InspectionCuba
16-20/11
TSD (1)Financial Services;
preparation of
schedules of
commitments
Djibouti
10-14/9
TCTD (1)
DD (1)Needs assessment in
the preparation of the
HLM on LDCsChinese Taipei
3-7/11
MAcc (1)Assistance in the
finalization of theDraft Report and in
the preparation of
market access
schedules in goodsEcuador
30/11-4/12
TexD (1)Agreement on Textiles
and Clothing
Burkina Faso
15-18/9
TCTD (1)
DD (1)Needs assessment in
the preparation of the
HLM on LDCsViet Nam
3-7/11
AccD (2)Assistance with
regard to accession to
WTO
Côte d'Ivoire
6-7/10
TCTD (1)
IMRD (1)- Training on the use
of technologies for
development
- Establishment of a
reference centre (CD-
ROM, Internet)Sri Lanka
6-7/11
TSD (1)Financial Services;
preparation of
schedules of
commitments
Benin
9-10/10
TCTD (1)
IMRD (1)- Training on the use
of technologies for
development
- Establishment of a
reference centre (CD-
ROM, Internet)Laos
14-20/12
DD (1)
TCTD (1)- Needs assessment:
follow-up of the
HLM on LDCs
- National Seminar
on the WTO and theMultilateral Trading
SystemWT/COMTD/W/36
Page 24AFRICA ASIA/PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH/LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEANMIDDLE EAST
Country and
DateSubject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject
Burkina Faso
11-13/10
TCTD (1)
IMRD (1)- Training on the use
of technologies for
development
- Establishment of a
reference centre (CD-
ROM, Internet)
Ghana
15-16/10
TCTD (1)
IMRD (1)- Training on the use
of technologies for
development
- Establishment of a
reference centre (CD-
ROM, Internet)
Madagascar
8-10/10
DD (1)Needs assessment in
the preparation of the
HLM on LDCs
Algeria
13-15/10
AccD (1)
LegD (1)International
Symposium on
International Trade
Mauritius
3-4/11
TSD (1)Financial Services;
preparation of
schedules of
commitments
Côte d'Ivoire
10-11/11
TSD (1)Financial Services;
preparation ofschedules of
commitments
Kenya
4-5/12
IMRD (1)
TDD (1)- Training on the use
of technologies for
development
- Establishment of a
reference centre (CD-
ROM, Internet)WT/COMTD/W/36
Page 25AFRICA ASIA/PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH/LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEANMIDDLE EAST
Country and
DateSubject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject
Uganda
8-9/12
IMRD (1)
TDD (1)- Training on the use
of technologies for
development
- Establishment of a
reference centre (CD-
ROM, Internet)
Tanzania
11-12/12
IMRD (1)
TDD (1)- Training on the use
of technologies for
development
- Establishment of a
reference centre (CD-
ROM, Internet)WT/COMTD/W/36
Page 26IV. Workshops, Conferences, Symposia, Round Tables, Training Courses : 78
AFRICA ASIA/PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH/LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEANMIDDLE EAST
Country and
DateSubject Country and
DateSubject Country and Date Subject Country and
DateSubject Country and
DateSubject
Côte d'Ivoire
 3-7/3
ERAD (1)Preparatory meeting of
francophone
symposium on Trade
EfficiencySingapore
15-17/1
IPID (1)WIPO Asian Regional
Round Table on the
Implementation of
TRIPsFrance
10-11/3
TCTD (1)OECD Development
Assistance Committee
(DAC)United States
4/2
IPID (1)Free Trade Area of the
Americas (FTAA)
Workshop on
Government
ProcurementPalestinian
Authority
2-6/3
LegD (1)UNCTAD/UNDP
Workshop on the
Emerging International
Trading System and its
Implications for the
Palestinian Economy
Tanzania
5-7/3
 IPID (1)WIPO Regional
Symposium for African
English-speaking
countries on TRIPsChinese Taipei
18-21/2
RD (1)Anti-Dumping
Workshop for
Taiwaneseinvestigating
authoritiesNetherlands
4-5/4
IPID (1)Course for post-
graduate students
(lawyers) from Centraland Eastern European
Countries on TRIPsBrazil
4-5/2
IPID (1)Second Workshop on
Multilateral Rules on
Investment organized
by the OECDLebanon
25-26/3
IPID (1)Chambre de commerce
franco-arabe-
Symposium on theevolution of
Intellectual Property
Rights
Ethiopia
31/3-4/4 ERAD
(1)Conference of African
Ministers of FinanceHong Kong,
China
4-10/3
TSD (1)Conference on
telecommunicationsBelgium
23-25/6 TCTD (1)ACP Special Session Argentina
3-7/3
RD (2)WTO Anti-Dumping
Workshop for
Investigating AgenciesJordan
 27-30/4 ACCD
(1)Conference on the
WTO
Benin
22-24/4
IPID (1)WIPO regional African
workshop on the TRIPsMalaysia
11-13/3
IPID (1)WIPO Asian Regional
Symposium on TRIPsGeneva
23-27/6
IPID (1)TRIPs Workshop for
French speaking LDCs
and other Sub-Saharan
Developing CountriesColombia
12-14/3
IPID (1)WIPO Regional
Symposium for Latin
American andCaribbean countries on
TRIPsJordan
 17-19/6
IPID (1)WIPO Regional
Symposium on the
TRIPs Agreement
Seychelles
24-30/4 ERAD
(1)Ministerial Session of
the Indian Ocean
CommissionIndia
23-27/3
TSD (1)Conference on GATS
including banking,
insurance, shippingZurich
13-18/7
AgD (1)SPS:  Risk Analysis Brazil
17-21/3
RD (1)Anti-Dumping and
Countervailing Duties
Workshop for Latin
American countriesJordan
2-5/8
TCTD (1)Regional Workshop on
Trade in TextilesWT/COMTD/W/36
Page 27AFRICA ASIA/PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH/LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEANMIDDLE EAST
Country and
DateSubject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject
Tunisia
12-13/5 ExtD (1)Union Internationale de
l'Artisanat des Petites
et Moyennes
Entreprises (UIAPME)Korea, Rep.of
1-4/4
IPID (1)Symposium on the
Multilateral
Agreement on
investment (MAI)Geneva
14-17/7
IPID (1)Joint WIPO/WTO
workshop on
technical cooperation
in TRIPsArgentina
7-8/4
IPID (1)Round table on TRIPs
organized by the
Argentine Patent Office
(INPI) for Heads of
MERCOSUR industrial
property officesSyria
25-26/11 TCTD
(1)Implications of the
WTO Agreements for
IDB Member
Countries
Morocco
1-16/5
TSD (1)Workshop on private
participation in
TelecommunicationsKorea, Rep.of
2-21/6
RD (2) Outside
consultants (3)Training Course on the
WTO AgreementsLatvia
15-16/9
LegD (1)Dispute Settlement Brazil
28-29/4 TCTD
(1)Workshop on Regional
Trade Agreements
Benin
3-6/6
TSD (1)West and Central
African States
Maritime Conference/
World Bank Round
Table on Maritime
Transports
(Cotonou II)Malaysia
9-12/6  ERAD (1)Conference sponsored
by the CommonwealthSecretariat on
telecommunication
servicesRussian
Federation
15-19/9
RD (1)
EU (1)
USA (3)Anti-Dumping and
Countervailing Duties
WorkshopColombia
2-4/6
TCTD (1) MAcc
(1)SELA Regional
Workshop on MarketAccess and Customs
Issues
Morocco
19-20/6
IPID (1)Regional Workshop on
investment for African
countriesUzbekistan
17-20/6
Consultant (1)Training Course for
Economies inTransition organized
by ESCAPHungary
29/9
RD (1)Workshop on Anti-
dumping andCountervailing
Investigations for
officials from Central
and Eastern European
CountriesCanada
23-25/6 TCTD
(1) IMRD (1)Toronto 'Global
Knowledge' Conference
Botswana
25-26/9 ERAD
(1)Conference on
Prospects of EU-ACP
relationshipChinese Taipei
18-19/7
IPID (1)APEC Symposium on
IPR enforcementAustria
29/9 1/10 TED (1)Experts group on
internationalstandards of quality
and environment
management systems
for LDC'sJamaica
11-12/7
TSD (1)CARICOM-UNDP
workshop on trade and
servicesWT/COMTD/W/36
Page 28 AFRICA ASIA/PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH/LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEANMIDDLE EAST
Country and
DateSubject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject
Morocco
28/9 1/10 TexD
(1)International Textiles
ConferenceThailand
4-9/8
LegD (1)Training Course on
Dispute SettlementGeneva
7-10/10
TCTD (1) LegD
(1)Tenth Special Training
Course on Dispute
Settlement Practices
and ProceduresSt. Kitts & Nevis
18-22/8
TSD (1)Caribbean
Telecommunications
Union workshop Basic
Telecommunicationsoffers, improvement of
offers, etc.
Tunisia
29/9 1/10 TCTD
(1)- Workshop on
Notification
Requirements
- Advisory Mission on
the use of a Computer-
Based SystemIndonesia
25-29/8
RD (1)Workshop on Anti-
Dumping andCountervailing
Measures (Rules)Geneva
27-28/10
TCTD (3)High-Level Meeting
for LDCsCosta Rica
8-12/9
RD (1)Workshop on Anti-
Dumping (Rules)
Egypt
20-22/10  IPID
(1)OECD Symposium on
the MultilateralAgreement on
Investment (MAI)Philippines
6-10/10 TCTD
(1)International
Symposium on Craftsand the International
Market:  Trade and
Customs NotificationsBelgium
9-10/11
LegD (1)Conference of the
Energy Charter(Central and East-
European Countries)Trinidad and
Tobago
17-18/9 TCTD
(1)SELA Regional
Workshop on theImplications of the new
multilateral trading
environment for
Caribbean countries
Senegal
10-11/10  TSD
(1)Second African Forum
on Mobile Radio-
telecommunications
and Technical Mission
for the Drafting of
Financial Services
offerIndia
15-17/10 IPID
(1)WIPO Asian Sub-
regional Symposium on
the implications of the
TRIPs agreementSpain
10-13/11
IPID (1)International course on
intellectual property for
officials from
developing countriesParaguay
27-29/10 TexD
(1)Convention of the
International Cotton
Advisory Committee
Egypt
21-23/10
IPID (1)Symposium on
'Challenges in
Intellectual Property
Protection:International and Arab
World Perspectives'Japan
27-30/10 IPID
(1)APEC Conference to
implement the border
enforcement aspects of
the TRIPs AgreementItaly
24-25/11
IPID (1)Principles and practice
of foreign investment
and trade in services
for officials from
developing countriesCuba
21/11
DDG (1)Fiftieth Anniversary of
Havana ConferenceWT/COMTD/W/36
Page 29AFRICA ASIA/PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH/LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEANMIDDLE EAST
Country and
DateSubject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject
Tanzania
26-30/10 TED
(1)Sub-Regional
Workshop on the
Establishment and
Updating of NationalCapacities in Quality,
Standardization
Testing and Metrology
in African LDCsHong Kong, China
30-31/10 IPID (1)APEC seminar on the
TRIM's agreementGeneva
24/11 - 12/12
TCTD (2)WTO Training Course
for African countries
(Integrated Programme
for Least Developedand other African
Countries)United States
3-4/11
TCTD (2)Planning Meeting with
OAS on technical
cooperation
programme for OAS
members
Morocco
26-28/11 ERAD
(1)International
Symposium on
Human Resources and
International TradeIndia
7-8/11
TCTD (1)ITC Technical
Workshop (New
Delhi)Peru
10-12/12 AgD
(1)Technical workshop on
subsidies in agricultural
sector
Senegal
8-11/12
TED (1)International
conference related to
the implementation ofthe Montreal Protocol
on Substances that
deplete the Ozone
LayerThailand
10-14/11
RD (2)Anti-dumping and
Countervailing Duties
Workshop for East-Asian countries
(Rules)
Pakistan
17-18/11 TCTD
(1)ITC 'Uruguay Round
Agreements'
Round Table (Lahore)
Korea, Rep. of
17-27/11
LegD (1)
TED (1)
TexD (1)
AgD (1)Training Course on
WTO AgreementsWT/COMTD/W/36
Page 30 AFRICA ASIA/PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH/LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEANMIDDLE EAST
Country and
DateSubject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject Country and Date Subject
China
22-24/12 TCTD
(1)Workshop on
Uruguay Round
Agreements and their
implications forIndustry and
Commerce
__________