Title of the activity
The Information Technology Agreement and its role in an era of digital transformation
Activity Type
Thematic course/Workshop
Description
The Information Technology Agreement 1996, as well as the 2015 ITA Expansion Agreement (ITA2) are WTO plurilateral agreements open for acceptance by all WTO Members and acceding governments. With the background of rapid technology development and digital transformation globally, an increasing number of developing governments have expressed their interests to better understand the ITA Agreements and explore possibilities of participation. This Geneva-based five-day training workshop is organized with a view to enhance and improve participants' knowledge on ITA and ITA Agreements; to improve their capacity to use WTO IT tools and database to find relevant tariff and trade information regarding ITA products; and to enhance the participants' analytical skills to assess the benefits of joining the ITA and its implication on the digital transformation. The workshop has been scheduled on October 28 to 1 November 2024 in Geneva, with a maximum of 28 participants from TA beneficiary governments. The training will be undertaken in the form of lectures, case studies, group discussions as well as presentations by participants. External speakers from international organizations, ITA participant governments, and ICT industries are invited to make presentations on related subjects or share national experience, so as to provide participants with an overview of linkage between ITA, digital infrastructure, trade facilitation and integration into the global ICT value chain.
Venue
Switzerland
City
WTO
Trade topic
Information Technology Agreement and sectoral agreements
Start Date
End Date
Duration (days)
5
Activity Level
selection process
Preference will be given to nominees having a demonstrated background in information technology trade policies and direct responsibility in ITA-related issues. The Organisers reserve the right to select candidates and to decline the candidature of nominees who do not meet these requirements and/or on the basis of the maximum number of funded participants.
Pre-requisite
This activity will be delivered in English. Participants are required to have full command of English. Selected candidates will also be expected to make a presentation to share national experience of ITA participation or challenges faced to join the ITA or ITA II.
Target Audience
Government officials
Language
English
Key Result
1. Government officials are implementing WTO Agreements and fully realising Members' rights and obligations
Key Output
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about WTO Agreements, trade policy formulation and conduct of trade negotiations
Programme
Invited Members and Observers:
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Argentina
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain, Kingdom of
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia, Plurinational State of
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Burkina Faso
Cabo Verde
Cambodia
Cameroon
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Costa Rica
Côte dʼIvoire
Curaçao
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Fiji
Gabon
The Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong, China
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Jamaica
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Korea, Republic of
Kuwait, the State of
Kyrgyz Republic
Lao Peopleʼs Democratic Republic
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Macao, China
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova, Republic of
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
North Macedonia
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Qatar
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Chinese Taipei
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Türkiye
Turkmenistan
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Viet Nam
Zambia
Zimbabwe