UNCTAD, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is organizing a brain-storming meeting on WTO trade issues for representatives of Arab countries accredited to UNCTAD and WTO. The meeting, which will be held on 18 November 1996 at the Hotel Chavannes-de-Bogis (Switzerland), is being organized as part of the joint UNCTAD/UNDP technical assistance programme for Arab countries on World Trade Organization issues (Arab States Economic Integration and Trade Programme, preparatory assistance - RAB/95/005). Within this programme, UNCTAD and UNDP have initiated various technical assistance activities for the benefit of Arab countries on WTO issues. Among them can be mentioned the regional meetings in Casablanca and Bahrain and advisory services to Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Lebanon, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, Bahrain, Gulf countries, etc.
The meeting is expected to bring together forty to fifty representatives, including Ambassadors, Trade Representatives and Economic Counsellors of Arab countries accredited to UNCTAD and WTO in Geneva.
The main objective of this high-level meeting is to exchange views informally between participants and international experts on priority issues for Arab countries and to discuss also at the Ambassadorial level the preparation of the Arab countries for the Singapore conference. The major items on the agenda include: review of the implementation of WTO agreements; future trade issues on international trade and matters related to the accession to WTO.
Representatives of the following organizations will also attend: UNCTAD, WTO, WIPO, ESCWA and the League of Arab States.
