WT/INF/197  
 
6 February 2015  
(15-0818)  Page: 1/3  
    
 
 FIFTH GLOBAL REVIEW OF AID FOR TRADE 
 
"REDUCING TRADE COSTS FOR INCLUSIVE, SUSTAINABLE GROWTH" 
 
WTO, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND 
30 JUNE – 2 JULY 2015  
INFORMATION NOTE AND CALL FOR SIDE EVENTS 
1  OVERVIEW 
1.1.  The 5th Global Review of Aid for Trade will be held at the WTO in Geneva from 30 June to 
2 July 2015. The theme of the Review is: "Reducing Trade Costs for Inclusive, Sustainable 
Growth".  The 5th Global Review will look in depth at th e issue of trade costs and examine how Aid 
for Trade can promote inclusive, sustainable growth by taking action to reduce trade costs.  
1.2.  This information note launches a call for si de events.  Up to a maximum of 30 side events will 
be added to the agenda on the basis of requ ests submitted by WTO Members, observers, 
intergovernmental organizations, busine ss groups, civil society and academia.  
1.3.  A draft agenda and updates, including inform ation on participants and side events, will be 
periodically posted on the WTO website at the following address: 
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/d evel_e/a4t_e/global _review15_e.htm . Details of how to 
register attendance at the meeting will also be circulated via the WTO website in due course. 
2  CONTEXT 
2.1.  The 5th Global Review is one of the milestones of the WTO's 20th anniversary year. It 
provides an opportunity and a forum to review trade and development issues, both in retrospect and also in prospect, notably as regards the contribution that trade, and the WTO, can make to the 
emerging post-2015 development agenda, economic growth and development.  
2.2.  High trade costs were identified during the 4
th Global Review of Aid for Trade as a key factor 
negatively affecting the ability of developing country firms to connect to value chains, both 
regionally and globally, and to contribu te to inclusive economic growth.   
2.3.  Research on trade costs indicates that while progress is being made to cut trade costs for 
developing and least developed countries (LDCs), the rate of decline is slower among developing countries and LDCs than among developed countries. As it is trade costs start from a high baseline 
among developing countries and LDCs. Furthermore, while progress is being made by some 
developing countries and LDCs, others are standing-still or losing ground.  
2.4.  Debate at the 5
th G l o b a l  R e v i e w  w i l l  b e  i n f o r m e d  b y  t h e  r e s u l t s  o f  a  j o i n t  O E C D - W T O  
monitoring and evaluation (M&E) exercise. This M&E exercise surveys Aid-for-Trade 
implementation and action to reduce trade costs taken by partner countries, bilateral and multilateral donors, South-South partners, regional economic communities and transport corridors.  
Effort is being made to reach out to the private sector as part of this exercise. A particular theme 
examined in the M&E exercise is the challenges th at developing countries, and in particular LDCs, 
may face in implementing the Trade Facilitation Agreement.  WT/INF/197 
 
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  3  SIDE EVENTS 
3.1.  Members, observers, intergovernmental or ganizations, business groups, civil society and 
academia are invited to submit requests to ho ld side events. A maximum of 30 slots for side 
events will be available over the course of th e three days. Interested parties are requested to 
provide an outline for their side events, includ ing suggested speakers and proposed theme, by 
completing a Side Event Request Form (Annex 1) which should be submitted by e-mail to 
aft.wto@wto.org  by Friday, 27 March 2015.  
3.2.  Side event organizers are responsible for all logistical, financial, catering and reporting 
arrangements and obligations, including with regard to registration of participants, arising from their side events. Limited video conference facili ties are available in some meeting rooms, as 
required.  These facilities are provided at no cost to the organizers of side events. All participants 
at side events must be registered online through the WTO website prior to the 5
th Global Review. 
Further details, including on how to register fo r the side events, will be communicated in due 
course. Please note that the WTO Secretariat is not in a position to provide interpretation for side 
events. 
3.3.  Every effort will be made to accommodate requests for side events.  If, however, not all the 
requests received can be accommodated, priority will be given to requests made by Members and 
those requests that address most closely the theme of the 5th Global Review, "Reducing Trade 
Costs for Inclusive, Sustainable Growth".  
4  SOCIAL MEDIA 
4.1.  The 5th Global Review of Aid for Trade will be fe atured on social media. The WTO Facebook 
page will be used to post information and host debates during the Review. The event will also be profiled on Twitter. Members are invited to use the hash tag #aid4trade to post information on 
Twitter. 
5  FURTHER INFORMATION 5.1.  All enquiries and questions regarding the 5
th Global Review should be addressed by e-mail to 
aft.wto@wto.org . 
_______________ WT/INF/197 
 
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  ANNEX 1 
 
  
 
 
FIFTH GLOBAL REVIEW OF AID FOR TRADE 
 
"REDUCING TRADE COSTS FOR INCLUSIVE, SUSTAINABLE GROWTH" 
 
WTO, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND 
30 JUNE – 2 JULY 2015 
SIDE EVENT REQUEST FORM 
This form should be completed and returned to the WTO by e-mail only – aft.wto@wto.org  – 
by NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, 27 MARCH 2015.  
 
TITLE OF SIDE EVENT:  
 
 
 
 
EXPLANATORY TEXT: 
 
 
 
 
 PROGRAMME, INCUDING LIST OF SPEAKERS:  
 
  
 
 DETAILS ABOUT THE ORGANIZER: 
 
 
  
 INTERPRETATION REQUIREMENTS  (at organizer's expense): 
 
 
 
 
 CATERING REQUIREMENTS (at organizer's expense): 
 
 
 
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