WTO Concludes Advanced Course on Trade in Services for Government Officials

The course was organized jointly by the WTO Trade in Services Division and the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation.

Participants deepened their understanding of the main provisions of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and analysed key features of recent regional trade agreements. They also explored recent trends in world services trade, the latest developments in measuring services trade, and various tools for trade policy analysis. Participants also discussed topical issues in services trade policy, such as e-commerce, investment facilitation and environmental services.

Mr Uzoma Desmond Idu-Odaiche, official from Nigeria's Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, said: “This course allowed me to enhance my knowledge of trade in services and to familiarize myself with the main provisions in trade agreements. It has also equipped me with the tools needed to involve our private sector operators by educating them on the benefits of engagement in trading services.”

Ms Verónica Gabriela López Gilli, official from Argentina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship, said: “This course has helped me enhance my knowledge of emerging trends in services and equipped me with relevant tools for the tasks that I undertake in terms of services and investments.”

Mr Berisford Codd, who works in Belize's Directorate General for Foreign Trade, said: “This course has allowed me to gain more insight into some of the latest negotiations that have been happening at the WTO on domestic services, service regulations and investment facilitation for development. ”

The course programme is available here.

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