Regional trade policy course starts

THERE is a need to strengthen African capacity in the key economic sectors that would help foster growth, development and industrialisation and at the same time make meaningful progress in poverty alleviation, says Trade and Industry Minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko.

Ngatjizeko said the agricultural, services and marketing sectors were important for the continent and institutional capacity should be intensified to help African representatives with adequate skills during multilateral trade negotiations with major trading partners. The Minister was speaking at the official opening of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Regional Trade Policy Courses (RTPC) in Windhoek on Monday.The three-month RTPC, sponsored by the WTO to the tune of N$5,5 million, is aimed at strengthening the position of developing countries in the ongoing debates and negotiations of trade issues.The course, being conducted at the Unam Business School, will host high-level Government officials from 26 English-speaking African countries.Ngatjizeko welcomed the move saying, “One way a country can build the much-needed capacity is to enhance the capacity of the academic institutions and research institutions in the area of international trade law.”This type of capacity is sustainable since it is built in a system and not around individuals.This type of capacity building could help the negotiators to take informed positions through effective backstopping from the above institutions combined with the requisite Government policy directives.”The RTPC will cover a broad variety of subjects which include international trade theory, WTO basic principles, market access, customs issues, agriculture, negotiating skills and dispute settlement.For the last three years, the RTPC for English-speaking African countries was offered by the University of Nairobi in Kenya.The Minister was speaking at the official opening of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Regional Trade Policy Courses (RTPC) in Windhoek on Monday.The three-month RTPC, sponsored by the WTO to the tune of N$5,5 million, is aimed at strengthening the position of developing countries in the ongoing debates and negotiations of trade issues.The course, being conducted at the Unam Business School, will host high-level Government officials from 26 English-speaking African countries.Ngatjizeko welcomed the move saying, “One way a country can build the much-needed capacity is to enhance the capacity of the academic institutions and research institutions in the area of international trade law.”This type of capacity is sustainable since it is built in a system and not around individuals.This type of capacity building could help the negotiators to take informed positions through effective backstopping from the above institutions combined with the requisite Government policy directives.”The RTPC will cover a broad variety of subjects which include international trade theory, WTO basic principles, market access, customs issues, agriculture, negotiating skills and dispute settlement.For the last three years, the RTPC for English-speaking African countries was offered by the University of Nairobi in Kenya.