TRTA – Component 1

1. TRTA – Component 1 Achievements & Results Presentation by Ms. Lilia Naas Mr. Arif Khan

2. TRTA Component 1 Objective: Raising Awareness among Pakistan’s Public and Private Sectors on Multilateral Trading System and Building necessary capacities to benefit fully from its participation in the WTO Agreements

3. Implementation approach • Creating a critical mass of personnel knowledgeable about WTO agreements and trade related issues • Participatory approach with the involvement of private sector, public sector and civil society • Organisation of information dissemination and training events within a general framework with adjustments made to reach more effectively the final objective • Sectoral studies assessing implications of the WTO Agreements

4. Achievements • Activities conducted in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. • Training & exposure on MTS of more than 1200 Public & Private sector individuals through lectures, seminars and conferences. • 50 events organised • More than 40 reports produced and disseminated

5. Programme structure Awareness & knowledge on the WTO Training on WTO negotiations Building public-private sector dialogue

6. Awareness & Knowledge of the WTO Organisation of seminars on WTO Agreements Establishment of WTO Reference Centres Potential of Services Exports in the context of GATS 5 sectoral studies and WTO implications Advisory services to TDAP & establishment of WTO Cell Building capacity of Trade Associations and CCIs

7. Organisation of seminars on the WTO • 7 events organised in Islamabad, Karachi & Lahore • Participation from the public and private sectors and civil society • Publication and dissemination of several reports on each subject area Results: • Deepening understanding of commercial and economic implications of the Multilateral Trading System for Pakistan • Fostering dialogue between the business community and the government

8. Establishment of Reference Centres • Three Reference Centres established: LCCI (Lahore), TDAP (Karachi), MoC (islamabad) • Staff of Reference Centres and WTO Cells trained on Market Analysis Tools and information management Results achieved: • Local capacity built to research, analyse and disseminate WTO related information and market information • Technical/reference guides on operating Reference Centres published and disseminated

9. Exploring Services export potential • Services exports in the context of GATS • Services Capacity Report • National Services Workshop • Services Export Roadmap • Services Statistics Report Results achieved: • Comprehensive evaluation of Pakistan export potential • Roadmap (with clear indication on future initiatives to be undertaken) to enable the sector realise its full potential

10. 5 priority export sectors and WTO implications • Automotive parts, footwear, furniture, pharmaceuticals, and sports goods • SWOT analysis, export potential, impact of WTO Agreements, and ways to improve export performance • Proposals for future intervention to strengthen export capacity Results achieved: • Building private sector awareness of WTO implications • Providing a strategic vision for Paksitan to benefit from the WTO agreements and opening of markets.

11. Advisory services, training & support to TDAP • Advisory services on restructuring EPB in TDAP • Establishement of WTO Cell • Training staff of WTO Cell and developing promotional material Results: • WTO Cell has become operational • Achievements will become visible after programme ends

12. Capacity building in trade associations • Services brochures: published in English and Urdu • Adapted version of International Trade Rules: an Answer Book on the WTO Agreements for SMEs • Adapted version of Trade in Services: an Answer Book for SMEs • Adapted version of How to Approach Banks: A guide for Pakistani entrepreneurs

13. Training of Government Agencies on WTO Negotiations • Training in Geneva on WTO issues/negotiations (AoA, GATS, TF, NAMA, etc) • Training in Brussels (Trade remedy issues) Results: • Hands on experience in interacting with Geneva negotiators and institutions • Participation in negotiation sessions • Understanding on how to provide better support to the work of the WTO Permanent Mission in Geneva

14. Dialogue Strengthened between Government and Business on WTO • Public-private consultation mechanism • International comparative study • National study • Roundtable meetings Results: • Dialogue initiated • Continuation of consultations is critical to build on what was achieved so far

15. Programme Features: complexity • One main donor: EC delegation in Pakistan • Three implementing agencies: ITC, UNIDO and WIPO • ITC having overall coordination responsibility • Various local partner organisations within the public sector, the private sector and civil society

16. Programme Features: Challenges • TRTA pilot project: institutionalizing new collaboration mechanisms • Ownership – Ministry of Commerce ownership strong needs to be reinforced with other relevant ministries (agriculture, industry, etc) • More synergies among implementing agencies and with other EU interventions in the country

17. Programme Features: Challenges • Sustainability of capacity built and awareness raising cannot yet be guaranteed • Impact can only be seen in the medium to long term, incremental changes can be observed at this point in time • Consolidation and further strengthening of capacity built on trade related issues should be ensured with more activities undertaken • Important not to lose momentum when project ends in September 2007

18. Thank you for your attention For more information contact: Ms. Lilia Naas Senior Trade Promotion Office International Trade Center naas@intracen.org