The World Trade Organization (WTO) concluded its advanced course on analyzing trade in services in Geneva. Participants were trained to use data, statistics, and regulatory information from the WTO-World Bank Integrated Trade Intelligence Portal (I-TIP) for Services. The portal provides comprehensive information on services trade policies. Hands-on exercises helped participants enhance their ability to analyze and utilize results drawn from these analytical tools and statistical databases.
Natasha Mpeza Bwalya, Trade in Services Desk Officer at Zambia's Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, commented: "The course introduced us to recent services developments and new data that could help in our shared level of commitments and negotiations as a country. The ability to use the analytical tools was also new. I am confident now I can draft using the tools and the database and find information about the countries we are targeting."
Another participant, Tricia Gideon from Belize's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, stated: "This course covered a whole set of very useful tools for quantifying qualitative information. With that information, I can better understand the applied regimes in different countries. Understanding the applied versus preferential regimes allows us to engage more smartly."
Alejandro Tomás Guzmán Ieromazzo from the Dominican Republic's Central Bank added: "This course has provided me with a solid insight into how to analyze the WTO-World Bank data on trade in services and use it to make projections about future negotiations. It has been an eye-opener with regards to services negotiations and how statistics work hand in hand with a sector as complex as services."
Organized jointly by the Trade in Services Division and the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation of the WTO, the Advanced Course on Analyzing Trade in Services is a “Level 3” specialized training activity, representing the highest level of learning within the WTO Progressive Learning Strategy.
More information on trade in services is available here.