GEN19-1

Graduation from the LDC category is one of the overarching goals of the Istanbul Programme of Action for LDCs for the Decade 2011-2020. Currently, half of the LDCs that are in the graduation process are from Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal and Timor Leste). Assisting graduating LDCs has been a shared objective of the international community.

The purpose of the workshop is to improve the knowledge and understanding of the participants of the implications of LDC graduation and build their capacity to address the challenges arising from the loss of LDC-specific benefits.

The workshop will provide participants the opportunity to learn about the graduation process, and its implications for their future participation in the rules-based WTO system, as well as preferential trade. Participants will play an active role in identifying options and strategies to address graduation-related challenges and prepare their countries to smoothly integrate into the global economy for successful LDC graduation. By the end of the workshop, participants will be better informed about possible support measures and transition periods that may be available for graduating LDCs, and possible steps that could be taken to better prepare for graduation.