Graduating Least Developed Countries in an Evolving WTO

Therefore, this session jointly organized by the Centre for Policy Dialogue and Geneva office of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung wanted to shift the attention to the LDCs by focusing on several aspects: the graduation of 12 LDCs over the next three to six years; the WTO reforms being discussed, albeit not under any formal structure, exclusively by developed countries. There is no mechanism for the LDCs to voice their points of views in these discussions; issues such as trade-related disciplines in e-commerce, cross-border trade in e-goods, trade facilitation in services and intellectual property rights.

Speakers: 

• His Excellency Mr. Léopold Ismael Samba, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Central African Republic to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva
• Dr. Mia Mikic is Director, Trade, Investment and innovation Division in United Nations ESCAP
• Professor Mustafizur Rahman is an economist by training. He is currently serving as Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD)
• Rolf Traeger, Chief, LDC Section, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

Moderator:

• Tina Marie Blohm, Resident Representative Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Bangladesh Office