The fifth WTO/UNESCAP Trade Policy Course on WTO Agreements and the Doha Development Agenda takes place in Bangkok from 18-28 February 2003. The main purpose of this course is to strengthen developing countries’ effective participation in the Doha negotiations and work programme through a deeper understanding of WTO Agreements, the issues involved and a better knowledge of the range of options available. The course addresses all issues in the WTO work programme arising from the Doha Development Agenda and highlights multilateral and regional perspectives. Participants to this course will be, by invitation only. About 25-30 mid-level Government officials with responsibilities for negotiations under the Doha Development Agenda will be invited. The tentative programme of the course can be found here. Further information notes are available on-line for participants sponsored by WTO/UNESCAP and for self-financed participants.

The course is being organized pursuant to paragraph 38 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration which states that “the delivery of WTO technical assistance shall be designed to assist developing and least-developed countries and low-income countries in transition to adjust to WTO rules and disciplines, implement obligations and exercise the rights of membership, including drawing on the benefits of an open, rules-based multilateral trading system” as well as to paragraph 39 which underscores the urgent necessity for the effective coordinated delivery of technical assistance with, interalia, regional intergovernmental institutions. The Course is also being organized pursuant to the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Resolution 57/5 Integration of Asian and Pacific developing countries and economies in transition into the international trading system which requests the Executive Secretary to, interalia, facilitate the integration of developing countries and economies in transition into the international trading system by organizing training courses to strengthen the participation of the region's developing economies in world trade.

Last updated: 16 January 2003