United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) are, jointly organizing the first pilot e-learning course on “Trade Finance Infrastructure Development”, from 16 June through 25 July 2008. As providers of training and technical assistance mainly to developing countries and countries with economies in transition in Asia and the Pacific, ESCAP and UNITAR have decided to incorporate new information and communication technologies into their capacity development strategies. Concretely, this translates into user-friendly, flexible and accessible internet-based courses for officials and professionals in full-time work.

International trade is now widely acknowledged as an important engine of growth in most developing countries and countries with economies in transition in Asia and the Pacific. Recent ministerial meetings of World Trade Organization (WTO) have further demonstrated the importance of international trade and investment flows, with many developing economies joining hands to vigorously defend their interests in this area. While countries need to actively engage in negotiations with others to create a favourable international environment, each must also ensure that its domestic environment is favourable to trade development. The key question this course will address is: How can the public and private sector work together to facilitate the flow of international trade and investment which fuels growth and economic development. The course is now open for registration. Interested persons are requested to visit the following website:   http://www.unitar.org/pft/tradefinance/Index.htm