Unam hosts WTO course for 2nd time

TONDERAI KATSWARA THE University of Namibia will for the second consecutive year host the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Regional Trade Policy Course (RTPC) for English speaking African countries.

Twenty-five African countries are expected to send participants for the programme which starts today. Participants would be high-level Government officials, who would assume leadership positions in trade related offices upon completion of the RTPC.Some 40 resource persons will be involved in teaching the programme.Unam conducted the three-month RTPC for the first time last year, and an evaluation of that first programme led to the renewal between the local institution of higher learning and the WTO.The WTO funds the RTPC with an amount of US$5,5 million (N$36,3 million), which will benefit Unam especially the faculties of economics and management sciences, and law; which work together in the implementation of the course.The programme will assist the particular departments in strengthening its network of professionals in international trade matters, and also their network with other Governmental and non-governmental institutions working in the field of regional trade.Unam’s Director for Communications and Marketing, Edwin Tjiramba, pointed out that a number of factors contributed to the university’s second success to hosting the RTPC again, adding that the faculties of economics and management sciences, and that of law, both had the necessary expertise in world trade matters.Unam believes the RTPC, as part of the overall policy by the Government, will “build capacity that will enable not only Namibians, but also officials from other African countries, to be fully part of the international negotiations that have far-reaching consequences for the countries and their citizens”.The course will cover a wide range of subjects such as international trade theory, WTO basic principles, market access, customs issues, agriculture, negotiating skills and dispute settlement.The RTP courses are based on programmes offered for over 40 years by the General Agreement on Trade Tariffs/WTO in Geneva, Switzerland.In preparation for the course, regional resource persons attend a one-week orientation course in Geneva.Participants would be high-level Government officials, who would assume leadership positions in trade related offices upon completion of the RTPC.Some 40 resource persons will be involved in teaching the programme.Unam conducted the three-month RTPC for the first time last year, and an evaluation of that first programme led to the renewal between the local institution of higher learning and the WTO.The WTO funds the RTPC with an amount of US$5,5 million (N$36,3 million), which will benefit Unam especially the faculties of economics and management sciences, and law; which work together in the implementation of the course.The programme will assist the particular departments in strengthening its network of professionals in international trade matters, and also their network with other Governmental and non-governmental institutions working in the field of regional trade.Unam’s Director for Communications and Marketing, Edwin Tjiramba, pointed out that a number of factors contributed to the university’s second success to hosting the RTPC again, adding that the faculties of economics and management sciences, and that of law, both had the necessary expertise in world trade matters.Unam believes the RTPC, as part of the overall policy by the Government, will “build capacity that will enable not only Namibians, but also officials from other African countries, to be fully part of the international negotiations that have far-reaching consequences for the countries and their citizens”.The course will cover a wide range of subjects such as international trade theory, WTO basic principles, market access, customs issues, agriculture, negotiating skills and dispute settlement.The RTP courses are based on programmes offered for over 40 years by the General Agreement on Trade Tariffs/WTO in Geneva, Switzerland.In preparation for the course, regional resource persons attend a one-week orientation course in Geneva.