CONFÉRENCE DES NATIONS UNIES SUR
LE COMMERCE ET LE DÉVELOPPEMENT
UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE
ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT
UNCTAD/DTL/KTCD/MISC/2009/6
(09/178ams)
NOTIFICATION
Short courses on key international economic issues
for delegates from permanent missions in Geneva
Second semester 2009
Following the successful series of short courses held in the first semester of 2009, the
UNCTAD secretariat is pleased to announce that another series of short courses on key
international economic issues for delegates and staff from permanent missions in Geneva will
take place in the second half of 2009.
The aim is to give permanent missions an opportunity to take part in a shorter, more
focused version of the regional three-week course that deals with key issues on the international
economic agenda. Delegates attending the courses will become better acquainted with the most
topical issues in the main areas of UNCTAD’s work. More detailed information on the content
of individual courses, and a schedule, can be found in the attached programme.
The secretariat has planned three courses, to be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Palais
des Nations on Wednesday, 30 September 2009 (room VIII); Friday, 30 October 2009 (room
XXVI); and Monday, 30 November 2009 (room XXVI).
The courses will be delivered in English, with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic,
French and Spanish.
The secretariat invites permanent missions to nominate delegates who follow matters
pertaining to UNCTAD or WTO in Geneva to attend one or all of the courses, using the attached
application form. The form should be submitted at least one week before the date of the course.
Courses will begin promptly at 10 a.m. to allow sufficient time for debate after the presentations.
Any queries about the programme should be addressed to:
Ms. Vlasta Macku; e-mail: vlasta.macku@unctad.org; tel: 022 917 6227; or
Mr. Mohan Panicker; e-mail: mohan.panicker@unctad.org; tel: 022 917 2561.
(signed)
Supachai Panitchpakdi
Secretary-General of UNCTAD
27 August 2009
Short courses on key international economic issues
Second semester 2009
Programme
30 September 2009
Energy in the twenty-first century: the emerging biofuels market and its development
implications
Growing concerns about oil price volatility, energy independence and the climate change
ramifications of fossil fuel use have drawn substantial attention to renewable energies,
including biofuels, as alternatives for meeting the world’s demand for energy. Positive
economic, social and environmental objectives might be fulfilled by increased
production, use and international trade of biofuels. Biofuels, however, also raise concerns
related to food security, rising food prices and environmental conservation. The course
will provide an opportunity to discuss policies and instruments that could maximize the
positive impact of biofuels, while minimizing their potential adverse side-effects.
Delivered by: Division on International Trade in Goods and Services, and Commodities
30 October 2009
Non-tariff barriers: UNCTAD's new initiative
As multilateral and bilateral trade negotiations have led to tariff reductions, the
importance of non-tariff barriers (NTBs) to control international trade has been growing
in recent years. Developing a comprehensive database on NTBs is thus becoming an
urgent requirement, whether to negotiate their reduction or elimination with partner
countries, or to build capacity at home to meet the additional requirements imposed.
UNCTAD – having had one of the most comprehensive databases on NTBs in the past, in
its Trade Analysis and Information System (TRAINS) – took a new initiative in 2006 to
collect, disseminate and quantify NTBs, with the establishment of the Group of Eminent
Persons on Non-Tariff Barriers (GNTB). The course will introduce the work that
followed the first meeting of GNTB in July 2006 – a multi-agency effort involving seven
other international agencies (the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the International Trade Centre
UNCTAD/WTO, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the
United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the World Bank and the World
Trade Organization). It will also present some preliminary results from a pilot project on
NTBs in several developing countries that has been executed jointly by UNCTAD and
ITC on behalf of the multi-agency team, and it will make a proposal for a global project.
Delivered by: Division on International Trade in Goods and Services, and Commodities
2
30 November 2009
Investor–State dispute settlement
International Investment Agreements (IIAs) have the potential to contribute to economic
and social development, including by enhancing FDI flows and the attendant benefits.
Over the years, however, investors have increasingly resorted to the dispute settlement
mechanisms included in IIAs, leading to a growing number of treaty-based investor–State
dispute settlement (ISDS) cases being brought to international arbitration. This raises
considerable challenges for host countries, including cost-related challenges, challenges
regarding a country’s reputation as an attractive FDI destination, and capacity-related
challenges. In order to maximize the benefits of IIAs while minimizing the attendant
risks, it is of utmost importance that host countries have the capacity to manage – and, to
the extent possible, avoid – such ISDS proceedings. The course aims at offering an initial
overview of the key substantive and procedural issues that developing countries face in
this context.
Delivered by: Division on Investment and Enterprise
Short courses on key international economic issues
Second semester 2009
REGISTRATION FORM
(please print or type)
Surname: __________________________ First name: _____________________________
Middle initial: _____________________________________
Gender (F/M): __________
Job title:
_________________________________________________________________________
Permanent mission (country):
_________________________________________________________________________
Postal address:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Tel.: _____________________________ Fax: ____________________________________
E-mail address:
__________________________________________________________________________
I would like to register for the following courses (please tick those that interest you):
□
□
□
30 September 2009 – Energy in the twenty-first century: the emerging biofuels
market and its development implications
30 October 2009 – Non-tariff barriers: UNCTAD’s new initiative
30 November 2009 – Investor–State dispute settlement
I would like to receive reminders prior to each course (tick the appropriate box):
□ by telephone □ by e-mail
□ by fax
□ no reminders
Registration forms should be sent to:
Ms. Vlasta Macku
Chief
Policy Capacity-Building Section
Division on Technology and Logistics
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Fax: +41 (0) 22 917 00 50
E-mail: vlasta.macku@unctad.org