. /. RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/WGTTT/M/28 
28 September 2009 
 (09-4525) 
Working Group on Trade and Transfer of Technology 
Twenty-Eighth Session  
 
 
 
NOTE ON THE MEETING OF 21 JULY 2009 
 
Chairperson:  H.E. Mr. Philip Richard O. Owade (Kenya)  
  
A.
 ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA .........................................................................................................1  
B. ELECTION OF THE CHAIRPERSON .................................................................................................1  
C. ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRADE AND TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY ..............1  
D. ANY POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS ON STEPS T HAT MIGHT BE TAKEN WITHIN THE 
MANDATE OF THE WTO TO INCREASE FLOWS OF TECHNOLOGY TO DEVELOPING 
COUNTRIES ............................................................................................................................... ...2 
E. OTHER BUSINESS .........................................................................................................................2  
 
 A. 
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA  
1. The agenda contained in Airgram WTO/AIR/3400/Rev.1 of 13 July 2009 was adopted . 
B. ELECTION OF THE CHAIRPERSON  
2. The meeting was opened by the Deputy Director-General Mrs. Valentine Rugwabiza who 
formally introduced the Chairman-designate of the Working Group Ambassador Philip Richard 
O. Owade (Kenya) and asked Members to confirm hi s election as Chairperson of the Working Group.  
Members did so by acclamation. 
C. ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRADE AND TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY  
3. Members continued to discuss the relationship be tween trade and transfer of technology on 
the basis of the World Bank study " Global Economic Prospects:  Technology Diffusion in the 
Developing World ".  The discussion highlighted the importance of experience sharing in the 
technology transfer process, particularly by countries that had undergone rapid technological 
development in the last few decades.  In this cont ext, the role of technology as a critical element and 
as a catalyst in the development process of a number  of countries in Asia, which had climbed a steep 
industrialization curve in a very short span of time,  was underscored.  Members were of the view that 
useful lessons could be learnt from sharing su ch experiences and allowing developing countries to 
make more informed choices.  
4. Members welcomed the statement by the re presentative of UNCTAD that informed the 
Working Group that UNCTAD was finalizing a study on the role of technology and innovation in agricultural development in developing countries with  a particular focus on small-scale farmers in 
Africa.  The topics in the study included:  food secu rity;  agriculture productivity;  the role of 
technology and innovation in agriculture;  transfer of technology;  the role of public policy;  WT/WGTTT/M/28 
Page 2  
 
  infrastructure;  linkages to markets and research institutions;  and interna tional cooperation including 
South-South cooperation and international trade and investment.  The representative of UNCTAD 
stated that his organization would like to share th e findings of the study with the Working Group at 
one of its future meetings.  Members hoped that the study would help advance the work of the 
Working Group. 
D. 
ANY POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS ON  STEPS THAT MIGHT BE TAKEN WITHIN THE MANDATE 
OF THE WTO TO INCREASE FLOWS OF TECHNOLOGY TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES  
5. There was no discussion under the agenda item relating to the consideration of possible 
recommendations on steps that might be taken to increase flows of technology to developing 
countries.   
E. OTHER BUSINESS  
6. No issue was raised under "Other Business".  The Chairman informed Members that the 
representative of FAO would make a presentation on the 'linkages between technology transfer and 
productivity gains in agriculture' at the next meeting of the Working Group scheduled to be held in October 2009.  Advanced copies of the presentati on had already been circulated to Members. 
 
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