Pascal Lamy at 14th Geneva Week for WTO

07 May '07

2 min read

Welcome to the 14th Geneva Week event which the WTO Secretariat organises for non-resident Members and Observers. I would also like to warmly welcome the representatives of regional economic organizations and other specialised bodies that are participating in this week's activity.

I am pleased to note that, as was the case last year, attendance is high with participation from 25 out of the 30 Members and Observers that do not have representation in Geneva. In total, we have 70 participants attending this Geneva Week.

This good level of attendance continues to signify the importance attached to Geneva Week events. They not only provide an opportunity for you to be kept abreast of developments in the WTO and the DDA, but also for us to be kept informed of your needs, priorities and concerns.

I understand the particular challenges faced by Non Residents and I would like to reassure you that the WTO will continue to be responsive to your special needs. For example, many of you have expressed keen interest in participating in the meetings of the General Council. I am, therefore, pleased that we have been able to organise this Geneva Week around a meeting of the General Council on Wednesday.

In addition to your active participation in the General Council and the various briefings, we look forward to learning more about your priorities, and needs in terms of technical assistance. It would be useful for us to know whether the quality and type ofassistance you receive from us is adequate and what else we could do to help you better participate in the work of the WTO.

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