The governments are increasingly involving the private sector in the formulation and implementation of trade policy for (i) better diagnosis of the problems and design of appropriate trade policy reform for creating a business friendly environment, (ii) making policy reforms easier to implement by promoting better understanding of the reform package, (iii) building an atmosphere of mutual trust and understanding between public and private sectors and (iv) promoting transparency and good governance. In developing countries the private sector has too often been left out of the trade and development debate. As a result, the private sector in many countries lacks awareness of the benefits and consequences of trade liberalization. Often inadequately informed about the public sector initiatives, the private sector has little influence on the development of national trade policies and regulations. Outreach activities, awareness raising and capacity building are, therefore, important activities in this context.

Panel Discussion:

How private sector groups, and particularly those representing SME interests, can be empowered to articulate and express their views, make proposals and monitor the public policy-making, institution building and project planning.

The panellists might focus on the following questions:

   • Why is it important for the private sector to be involved in formulating trade policy?
   • How can private sector involvement improve the design and implementation of trade policy?
   • How can the private sector leverage international organizations to influence trade policy?
   • What are the success models in private sector involvement?

Moderator: ITC

Panelists:

Mr. Raja Abdul Aziz Raja Musa
Vice President
Chairman, Customs Committee
Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers Wisma (FMM)

Mr. Muhammad Akber Sheikh
Chairman
WTO Committee of Lahore Chamber of Commerce
Industry-LCCI

Ms. Tatyana Zhdanova
Vice-President
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the
Republic of Kazakhstan

Mr. Someth Suos
Former Ambassador of Cambodia to the WTO

Public-Private partnerships in building trade related infrastructure come in many forms. For example, an enterprise group, composed of public and private interests, produces a public service for profit. These include build, own and operate (BOO) and build, operate and transfer (BOT) schemes for the development of trade related infrastructure, such as road networks, airports, ports etc. It may also include partnerships such as, the joint management of a cold storage at the airport with the equity put into the venture by the partners being paid through user fees, or partnerships for the delivery of “public” services like the customs through establishing a single window for imports and exports.

Panel Discussion: Moderator: ITC

Issues that can be addressed are:

Panelists:

Merrill Lynch Representative

Mr. Mahendra Siregar SE, M.Ec,
Deputy Minister for International Economic and Finance cooperation
Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs

Mr. Jacques Feron
Phnom Penh Airport, Cambodia
Société Concessionnaire des Aéroports

Moderator: ITC

Brief Presentations

Mr. Siphana Sok, Director, International Trade Centre, Geneva
Overview of ITC activities in helping SMEs develop the skills and capacities to be competitive in global markets. It will be illustrated through specific case studies of provision of such services directly to the enterprises or by strengthening the trade promotion institutions. ITC clients would be invited to contribute to the discussion.

Mr. Lalith Goonatilake, Director, Trade Capacity Building Branch, UNIDO, Vienna
Overview of UNIDO supply capacity development and conformity development activities such as agro-industry development, value chain approach, cluster and export consortia development, and the support provided to achieve compliance with TBT/SPS driven market requirements, in particular supporting exporters to comply with stringent safety and quality standards and technical regulations.

Discussion

Mr. Sambuu Demberel
Chairman & CEO
Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and
Industry-MNCCI

Mr. Surendra Bir Malakar
President
Nepal Chamber of Commerce
Chamber Bhawan, Kantipath

Mr. Ly aun Hay
Managing Director
CONFIREL
Cambodia