  The
MOU was signed at the headquarters of the WTO in Geneva, on the margin
of a meeting of heads of regional development banks to discuss their
role in implementation of the Doha Development Agenda.
In
order to help Arab member/observer countries meet their multilateral
trade challenges, the WTO and the AMF, through joint effort and within
their respective resources and mandates will provide technical
assistance and capacity building to the Arab countries in a cost
effective and coherent manner.
The
importance of capacity-building was highlighted in the recent Doha
Ministerial Declaration, in which WTO members sought to place the
priorities and interests of developing countries and least developed
countries at the heart of the WTO’s work program.
In
the signing ceremony Mr. Moore, welcomed the MOU and said that this
will be the beginning of a fruitful and pragmatic working relationship
with the AMF to better serve Arab member/observer countries.
Currently, 11 Arab countries are members of the WTO, five others are
in the process of accession and two other countries have submitted
their application for membership.
The
singing of the MOU is part of an Arab strategy that was developed by
the Secretariat of the WTO. The purpose of this strategy is to ensure
that Arab interests, priorities and concerns are taken into account in
the work of the WTO. The AMF and WTO agreed to organize joint
activities in the following areas:
- WTO
short trade policy courses;
- regional
and sub-regional workshops;
- capacity
building for Arab negotiators;
- support
of Trade Policy Review; and
- support
for acceding countries.
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