24 May 2016

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, Ms Peggy Serame, says Africa needs to facilitate human capacity building in trade issues so as to position itself in a competitive position to negotiate great terms at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Officiating at a seminar on the WTO regional trade policy course in Gaborone on Monday, she said trade helped build sustainable development. 

The WTO regional trade policy course for English speaking African countries had been hosted in Botswana since 2013 after the country won the bid to host it for a four-year term, which ends this year.

Participants from over 15 African countries undertook the course.  Five of them were Batswana from different sectors of government. 

Ms Serame stated that participants would contribute to formulation of strategies and policies. 

She said it was important for WTO to create an enabling environment for developing countries in the multi-lateral trading system.

The PS encouraged the participants to build relationships and networks that would take Africa forward. 

She further thanked the WTO for partnering with Botswana and commended UB for hosting the seminar.

In his remarks, WTO head of Asia and Pacific rgional desk, Mr Faustin Luanga, stated that their relationship with Botswana had flourished over the years. He said he hoped that it would continue to benefit all parties.

He said WTO required trading systems that are fair hence they valued technical training of any kind. 

He noted that the course’s objective is to build institutional capacity through partnership with regional universities to train officials on WTO agreements and policies. The course would run for two months until July 15th at UB. ENDS