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WTO members advance on plans to deepen exchanges on environmental measures

Singapore partners with World Bank Group to launch new Water Center

Singapore and the World Bank Group inaugurated the Singapore Water Center today during the opening of the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) and CleanEnviro Summit Singapore (CESG). Located within the World Bank Group’s Singapore office, the center aims to leverage Singapore’s expertise in urban water management to support the water sector regionally and globally. It will conduct training activities, joint research projects, and pilot studies of novel technologies to enhance capacity building and serve as a thought leader on water resources management.

World Bank appoints David Sislen as Country Director for Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka

WASHINGTON, June 19, 2024—Mr. David Sislen has been appointed as the World Bank’s new Country Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, effective July 1, 2024.

WTO conducts trade policy review for Canada

The following documents are available:

Applications open for 2024 Trade and Public Health Workshop

The 18th WTO Trade and Public Health Workshop is being organized in close collaboration with the Secretariats of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). This workshop adopts a holistic approach to the interconnections between public health, trade, and intellectual property, based on the 2nd Edition of the WHO-WIPO-WTO Trilateral Study "Promoting Access to Medical Technologies and Innovation: Intersections between Public Health, Intellectual Property and Trade."

World Bank report highlights financial instability among developing countries' electric utilities

Only 40% of utilities in developing countries are financially sustainable, jeopardizing energy transition and access goals.

Audit report calls for strengthened procedures in Ghana

Ghana scored a C (8.0-8.5/10) in 2021, according to the SAIs Independence Index review, as shown in the 2021 Global Synthesis Report published by the World Bank.

Prize for Gender Equality in Trade announced by Informal Working Group

WTO members and observer governments are invited to apply for the Prize for Gender Equality in Trade using the application form available online. Applicants must demonstrate how their initiative is providing solutions to empower women through trade. They must also describe how the policy, program, or project was formulated and implemented.

DDG Ellard welcomes participants to John H. Jackson Moot Court Finals

The John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition is a simulated hearing under the rules of the WTO dispute settlement system, involving exchanges of written submissions and adversarial hearings before panelists on international trade law issues. The competition is organized by the European Law Students' Association (ELSA). The WTO has provided technical support for the competition since its inception in 2002.

WTO discusses progress towards integrating trade with environmental sustainability

In the first TESSD meeting after MC13 in April, the TESSD co-convenors, Canada and Costa Rica, welcomed Argentina as the 77th co-sponsor of TESSD. They also commended members on the four outcome documents and updated Work Plan presented at MC13. They encouraged members to further strengthen synergies among the four informal TESSD working groups—covering environmental goods and services, subsidies, circular economy, and trade-related climate measures—and aim to reach concrete results by MC14.

World Bank report underscores role of electric utilities in global energy transition

The World Bank's new report, "The Critical Link: Empowering Utilities for the Energy Transition," highlights the crucial role of electric utilities in achieving global energy transition and universal access goals. The report calls on policymakers, regulators, utilities, and financiers to address the challenges faced by many electric utilities in developing countries. These challenges include meeting growing power demands and integrating renewable energy sources into their grids.

World Bank report highlights progress on gender equality issues in Uzbekistan

The World Bank’s Uzbekistan Country Gender Assessment Report (CGA), produced with financial support from the government of the United Kingdom, serves as a diagnostic tool to evaluate gender equality in Uzbekistan. The report examines various domains, including education, health, economic activity, protection from gender-based violence, marriage, divorce, and participation in public life.

World Bank reports moderate economic outlook for CEMAC amid rising inflation

The World Bank released its Spring edition of the semi-annual CEMAC Economic Barometer, detailing the recent economic situation in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) and providing brief country analyses.

World Bank's Axel van Trotsenburg visits Nepal for key international meeting

KATHMANDU, June 17, 2024 — The World Bank’s Senior Managing Director, Axel van Trotsenburg, arrived in Kathmandu today on his first official visit to Nepal. He is scheduled to meet with government officials and other stakeholders and will chair the Third Replenishment Meeting of the International Development Association (IDA), a fund for low-income countries.

World Bank approves $118.5 million loan for Bolivia's climate-resilient road project

The World Bank Board of Directors has approved a new project in Bolivia aimed at enhancing climate risk management in the road sector and improving the resilience and safety of bridges and highways. The initiative comes as Bolivia, ranked tenth on the Global Climate Risk Index, faces significant damage from extreme weather events such as high temperatures and heavy rainfall, leading to landslides and flooding.

WTO hosts advanced trade policy course for Spanish-speaking officials

At the launch of the course on June 3, Chile's WTO Ambassador and patroness of the course, Sofía Boza Martínez, emphasized the importance of the training program in building participants' capacities to formulate, analyze, and implement multilateral trade policies. Highlighting the timeliness of the course given the effect that global crises are having on the multilateral trading system, she noted that participants have a unique opportunity to strengthen their skills through a hands-on approach and case-based learning.

NCUA reports Q1 decline in assets for federally insured credit unions

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (June 17, 2024) – For federally insured credit unions, assets and shares and deposits declined at the median over the year ending in the first quarter of 2024. At the same time, loans outstanding increased and delinquencies grew at the median, according to the latest Quarterly U.S. Map Review released today by the National Credit Union Administration.

Morocco enhances climate resilient irrigation amid severe water stress

Morocco, one of the world's most water-stressed countries, faces significant fluctuations in water availability due to climate change. This has led to declining rainfall, reduced runoff, and increased groundwater depletion. A large portion of Morocco's water resources is consumed by irrigated agriculture. To address this issue, Morocco has implemented the National Program of Water Savings in Irrigation, which aims to modernize irrigation on approximately 550,000 hectares, including 220,000 hectares covered by large-scale irrigation plans.

WTO explores strategies against global illicit trade

Illicit trade harms societies and impedes economic growth and development. It undermines legitimate business activity, fosters corruption, and denies governments potential tax revenue needed to invest in society. This is why the WTO Secretariat, under the leadership of Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been examining how WTO rules help members address some of the challenges posed by such trade.

U.S. Virgin Islands sees economic contraction amid falling exports and investments