The Ministry of Economic Development, Trade, Planning & Cooperatives together with the International Trade Center (ITC), Geneva and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Geneva, will, on Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 November 2014, host a National Workshop on “Implementing the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement.” The Workshop will be held at the Radisson Grenada Beach Resort, Grand Anse, St George.
The Workshop will provide an overview of the concept of Trade Facilitation — a review of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement and an analysis of the expected benefits of the TFA, in particular for the private sector.
The workshop will also bring together public and private trade facilitation stakeholders, to identify what will be required to implement Grenada’s commitments and initiate the process of building project plans to request donors’ financial, and technical assistance for implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. Discussion will build on the “National Plan for the implementation of the future WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement” completed in April 2013 by Grenada.
In December 2013, WTO Members concluded the negotiations of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA) at the 9th Ministerial Conference in Bali. Upon entry into force, the TFA will create binding obligations for WTO members to improve customs procedures, transparency and efficiency as well as cooperation amongst border regulatory agencies and the private sector.
The Workshop will be facilitated by Mr Benjamin Czapnik — Adviser, Trade Facilitation and Policy for Business, International Trade Centre and Ms Pamela Ugaz — International Trade and Facilitation Consultant , Trade Facilitation Section, Division on Trade and Logistics, UNCTAD. Feature remarks would also be made by the Comptroller of Customs Mr Carlyle Felix, and the Executive Director of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Ms Petipha Lewis–Smith.
