PRESS RELEASE

Strengthening the Voice of Poor Countries in Trade Negotiations Transforming AITIC into an Intergovernmental Organisation

At a ceremony in Geneva today, representatives of developed and developing countries signed an agreement to transform the status of the Agency for International Trade Information and Co-operation (AITIC) to that of an intergovernmental organisation, and to provide it with broader funding. AITIC, established in 1998 by the Swiss government, provides information and support vital to the national interests of least-developed countries and other countries that are at a disadvantage in taking part in trade negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO). With the aim of promoting their more effective participation in the multilateral trading system, AITIC focuses on providing poor countries with individual, country-specific support. In addition, dedicated facilities and services are available for those WTO members and observers without permanent representation in Geneva. Seven developed countries are together providing initial funding of 18 million Swiss francs that will allow AITIC to meet sharply increased demands for its services.

Today’s ceremony, held at WTO headquarters was co-chaired by Mr David Syz, Secretary of State for Economic Affairs of Switzerland, and HE Dr Rénald Clérismé, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Haiti to the WTO.  

Why Transform AITIC into an intergovernmental organisation?

The increasing difficulties of poor countries in participating in WTO negotiations, intensified by the Doha Work Programme, has boosted the demand for AITIC’s services. By broadening AITIC’s funding base and putting in place an inclusive governance structure, the AITIC Agreement acknowledges AITIC’s unique role and provides the basis for enabling it to respond more effectively to this demand.

AITIC’s Future Funding

AITIC’s transformation has received strong support from donor countries, its funding for the next five years guaranteed by pledges totallingCHF 18 million from Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Statements

Mr David Syz, stated that “if international trade is to contribute to economic development and poverty alleviation, all countries must be in a position to participate effectively in the WTO system. Strengthening AITIC’s capacity is a significant step in that direction”.

Co-Chairman of the AITIC Task Force, HE Dr Rénald Clérismé, paid tribute to “the spirit of partnership amongst resource-constrained and donor countries that underlies the AITIC Agreement” and stated that with its transformation into an intergovernmental organisation, “those countries that benefit from AITIC’s unique services will now have a real sense of ownership of the organisation and its work”.

Contact :      
   
HE Dr Rénald Clérismé, AITIC Task Force Co-Chairman, tel. 022 715 49 99.

Mr Didier Chambovey, AITIC Task Force Co-Chairman, tel. 022 749 25 25.

Dr Esperanza Durán, AITIC Director, tel. 022 910 31 50.

Appendix: Introducing AITIC

AITIC was created in 1998 on the initiative of the Swiss government. It was established as an independent, Geneva-based agency with a remit to assist resource-constrained developing countries and countries with economies in transition, including small, vulnerable economies, with a priority to least–developed countries and countries without permanent representation in Geneva, to benefit from the globalisation process in general and the multilateral trading system in particular. It does so by helping them to participate more actively in the work of the WTO and other international trade-related organisations. These are about eighty countries, notably in Africa, but also in the Caribbean, Central America, South and East Asia.

The process of transforming AITIC into an intergovernmental organisation was launched by an Initiative adopted by Ministers of 55 governments at the WTO’s Fourth Ministerial Conference in Doha in November 2001. The Task Force, created in the wake of that Initiative, considered different options for facilitating an expansion of AITIC’s services, reporting to the UN International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey in March 2002. Following endorsement of the Task Force’s report, consideration of the AITIC Agreement began, the process to culminate in a signing ceremony on 9 December 2002.

AITIC’s activities are aimed at the Geneva-based representatives of developing countries, economies in transition and least-developed countries, and at the delegates from these countries without permanent missions in Geneva, or those with only limited resources at their disposal. The Agency provides them with free, personalised assistance, tailored specially to their day-to-day needs for information concerning the WTO.

This assistance takes a variety of forms, including background notes on topics relating to international trade and the circulation of documents of interest to beneficiaries, in the three working languages of the WTO. AITIC also organises (in some cases, in collaboration with other institutions) seminars, training sessions and meetings on subjects of prime importance to delegates from these countries, for example relating to negotiations under the Doha Work Programme. The Agency also provides a neutral environment conducive to the holding of informal meetings and exchanges of views among Geneva-based officials from these countries.

In October 2000, AITIC created a Unit for Non-Resident Members and Observers of the WTO, to provide support to those countries without the necessary resources to establish and maintain permanent representation in Geneva. Indeed, officials responsible for monitoring WTO matters from these “non-resident" countries find themselves at a great disadvantage in terms of access to information and their ability to influence the decision-making process. Because of the more serious problems they face, they require more sustained assistance. Services provided to-date include an Early Warning System that gives advance notice of WTO developments, logistical support such as temporary office space and the facilitation of information flows between Geneva and non-residents’ trade officials.

Under the AITIC Agreement, AITIC’s funding for the next five years will be guaranteed by the following contributions from Sponsoring Members:

Note: Swiss franc equivalents are based on mid-point exchange rates on 12 September 2002, and are indicative only.