WTO Chairs Programme Annual Conference 20152-3 November 2015

IntroductionThe WTO Chairs Programme (WCP), launched in 2010 for a period of four years, has provided support to 14 Chairs established in developing countries. Following a WTO’s management decision in 2013, and given the success of the program in Phase 1, it was decided to continue the WCP for another period of 4 years with seven new Chairs selected (Phase 2). As a result, in 2014 the partnerships between the WTO and the academic institutions hosting a WTO Chair moved into a new phase increasing the number of participating institutions to 21.

The WCP aims to enhance knowledge and understanding of the multilateral trading system among academics and students in developing countries through teaching, research and outreach activities in research institutions. The programme has been successful in catalysing numerous academic outputs in the three WCP pillars: research, curriculum development and outreach. This has included the publication of research, the launch of new diploma and master’s degree programmes and has led to greater interaction among the WTO Chairs and their respective national trade authorities.

The fi rst day of the conference will focus on assessing the achievements of the fi rst year of activities conducted by second phase Chair. These refl ections will be conducted by WTO Chairs, the Advisory Board Members, and the WCP Team.

The objectives pursued on the second fold are twofold: discuss the activities conducted by Phase I Chairs under the WCP logo; and presentations by Phase II Chairs on their planned 2016 activities. This session will also provide the opportunity to discuss partnership arrangements among Chairs from both Phase I and II.

Opening Session Chair: H.E. Mr Van Schreven, Ambassador, Netherlands

09:30 – 09:45 Opening Remarks DDG Yi, Deputy Director-General, WTO

09:45 – 10:00 Objective of the Conference Ms Bridget Chilala, Director, Institute for Training and Technical cooperation

Session 1 Chair: H.E. Mr Van Schreven, Ambassador, Netherlands

10:00 – 11:00 Overview of research conducted under WCP 2014 and planned activities (Prepared by WCP team in collaboration with Chairs)

Robert Teh, ERSD

Discussants: Richard Newfarmer; Henry Gao

11:00 – 11:15 Coffee break

11:15 – 12.30 General discussion

12:30 LUNCH

The following three sessions will take stock of the work undertaken by Phase 2 Chairs in 2014 and provide an overview of achievements by the Chairs.

Second phase Chairs were requested to submit their annual reports on the implementation of their respective 2014 work programs and the main challenges encountered in the delivery of activities. On the basis of this information, the Secretariat will present a summary report of the main fi ndings.

Programme Day 1 ǀ WCP Conference ǀ WTO, Room W ǀ 2 November 2015

Programme Day 1 ǀ WCP Conference ǀ WTO, Room W ǀ 2 November 2015

Session 2 Chair: Ms Bridget Chilala, ITTC

14:30 – 15:45 Overview of Curricula development activities under WCP 2014 and planned activities (Prepared by WCP team in collaboration with Chairs)

Mr. Mustapha Sadni Jallab, ITTC

Discussants: Pierre Sauve; Giorgio Sacerdoti

General discussion

15:45 – 16:00 Coffee break

Session 3 Chair: Mr Maarten Smeets, ITTC

16:00 – 17:30 Overview of Outreach activities under WCP 2014 and planned activities (Prepared by WCP team in collaboration with Chairs)

Ms Fatima Chaudhri, ERSD

Discussants: Desiree Van Gorp; Vlasta Macku

General discussion

17:30 - 19:30 Cocktail (Atrium)

Programme Day 1

Programme Day 2 ǀ WCP Conference ǀ WTO, Room E ǀ 3 November 2015

Session 4 Chair: Alexander Sarris

09:30 – 10:30 Phase I Chair Activities conducted in 2015 under the WCP logo: Argentina, Barbados, Chile, China, Indonesia, Jordan and Kenya (5 minutes per presentation)

Discussants: Vlasta Macku; Ramon Clarete

10:30 – 11:30 Phase I Chair Activities conducted in 2015 under the WCP logo: Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Russian Federation, Senegal, and Singapore (5 minutes per presentation)

Discussants: Henry Gao; Pierre Berthaud

11:30 – 11:45 Coffee break

11:45 – 12:30 Discussion

12:30 LUNCH

Working Session – Room F

13:30 – 14:30 Working Session: WCP Advisory Board Members and WCP Team

Session 5 Chair: Lionel Fontagne

14:30 – 15:45 Phase II Chairs Planned 2016 Activities in the three pillars of the WCP: Benin, Brazil, Oman, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey, and Indonesia (10 minutes per presentation)

Discussants: Richard Newfarmer; Pierre Sauve

15:45 – 16:00 Coffee break

16:00 – 17:15 Discussion

Closing Session

17:15 – 17:30 DDG Agah, Deputy Director-General, WTO

This session focuses on the planned 2016 activities of Phase II Chairs and potential partnerships between Chairs

Following the Implementation Agreement between Phase I Chairs and the WTO Secretariat this session focuses on activities and outputs generated under the WCP logo.