TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

WTO COURSE FOR OFFICIALS FROM FRENCH‑SPEAKING AFRICAN COUNTRIES LAUNCHED IN TUNISIA

The 2014 Regional Trade Policy course for officials from French‑speaking African countries was launched on 17 March 2014 at Manouba University, Tunis, with 27 government officials.

Twenty‑seven officials from developing countries, LDCs and acceding countries will be attending the course from 17 March to 9 May. The 2014 Regional Trade Policy Course for French‑speaking Africa is the second course organised in partnership with the École Supérieure de Commerce of Manouba University. The participants were welcomed to the course at a formal opening ceremony organized on 17 March at the University in Tunis.

The opening ceremony of the Regional Trade Policy course was presided over by Mr Maher Gassab, Director of the École Supérieure de Commerce of Tunis, in the presence of Mr Victor Do Prado, Director of the Council and Trade Negotiations Committee Division of the WTO, Mr Moncef Ben Abdesalam, Secretary‑General of the Tunisian Centre for Export Promotion, and Mrs Fatma Brahim, Director in charge of WTO affairs at the Ministry of Trade and Crafts of the Republic of Tunisia.

Regional Trade Policy Courses (RTPCs) are considered a Level 2 training activity in the WTO's progressive learning strategy. As such, they enhance the introduction to the WTO received by all participants in a Level 1 introductory course. The objective of the course is to widen participants' understanding of trade policy matters, the multilateral trading system, international trade law and the functioning of the WTO. The course programme includes the basic principles of the WTO, trade in goods, trade in services, intellectual property, horizontal issues, as well as development issues and regional trade agreements.