Trade and WTO Accession: Challenges and Opportunities for Growth and Poverty Reduction

A Training Workshop Co-organized by the National Organization for the Studies of Politics and Administration (NOSPA) and the World Bank Institute

Wednesday, June 15th

Opening Session Welcome Speeches:

• Dr. Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune, Vice President, NOSPA
• Mr. Enrique Crousillat, Country Manager, The World Bank
• Mrs. Khemmani Pholsena, Director General, Ministry of Commerce

Moderators: Yan Wang, The World Bank and Inthavong Khedpangna, NOSPA

Session 1:  Trade, Growth and Poverty; and the Nuts and Bolts of WTO

Speaker:  Dr. Yan Wang, Senior Economist, WBI, The World Bank, Trade Integration, Growth and Poverty Reduction (ppt- 181k)

Moderator: Mr. Somneuk Davading, Economist, The World Bank Office in Laos

Background paper: Lao: Diagnostics Trade Integraton Study Concept (pdf -180k), The World Bank

Session 2: WTO Accession: Basic Principles of WTO; and Reforms that are needed in Laos

Speakers:

• Dr. Yan Wang, Senior Economist, The World Bank, The Nuts and Bolts of WTO Accession, and Lao PDR (pdf - 61k)
• Dr. Dean Spinanger, Head of Research, Kiel Institute of World Economics, Germany
  

Session 2b: Reforms that are needed in Laos

Speaker:  Dr. Dean Spinanger, Head of Research, Kiel Institute of World Economics, Germany

Thursday, June 16th

Session 3:  Introduction to the Economics of International Trade, and A New Model for the Poor and Remote Countries  (pdf - 1.5 mb)

Speaker: Dr. Kym Anderson, Lead Economist, The World Bank

Background papers:

1. Lao PDR and WTO Accession: Impications for Agriculture and Rural Development (pdf - 464k), Kym Anderson

2. Will China’s WTO accession worsen farm household incomes? (pdf - 128k), Kym Anderson

3. Small, Remote and Poor? (pdf - 325k), Anthony Venables

Session 4: Experiences of WTO Accession Process in the Last Decade: Implications to Lao PDR

Panelists:

• Dr. Kym Anderson, Lead Economist, The World Bank, Accession experiences during WTO’s first decade (ppt - 179k)
• Mr. Syviengxay Oraboune, Deputy Chief, Policy Analysis division, National Economic Research Institute (NERI), Committee for Planning and Investment

Session 5: Agricultural Trade Policy and the Doha Development Agenda

Speaker: Dr. Kym Anderson, Lead Economist, The World Bank, Market and welfare effects of Doha reform scenarios: Implications for Southeast Asia (ppt - 253k)

Panelists:

• Mr. Buavanh Vilavong, Dept of International Trade, Ministry of Commerce
• Ms Khekthone Chommonyoung, DICI, Ministry of Agriculture

Background paper:
Agricultural Trade Reform and the Doha Development Agenda (pdf - 159k), Kym Anderson and Will Martin

  
Session 6:   Anti-Dumping and Competition Policy  (ppt - 517k)

Speaker:  Dr. Dean Spinanger, Kiel Institute of World Economics, Germany
Discussant:  Mr. Buavanh Vilavong, Dept of International Trade, Ministry of Commerce

Moderator:    Somneuk Davading, Economist, The World Bank Office in Laos

Friday, June 17th

Session 7: Trade and Challenges for Land-locked Economies

Speakers:  

• Dr. Kym Anderson, Lead Economist, The World Bank, Trade and Trade Policy of Land-locked Countries (ppt - 159k)
• Dr. Ruth Banomyong, Professor and Head of Department of International Business, Logistics & Transport, Thammasat Business School, Thailand
  

Session 8: WTO and Trade Facilitation  (ppt - 250k)

Speaker: Dr. Ruth Banomyong, Thammasat Business School, Thailand

Session 9: Sources of Growth, and Public Policies Supporting Trade in Lao PDR

Speaker: Mr. Somneuk Davading, Economist, The World Bank Office in Laos, Realizing the Development Potential of Lao PDR (pdf - 37k)

Panelists:

• Dr. Dean Spinanger, Kiel Institute of World Economics, Germany
• Dr. Ruth Banomyong, Thammasat Business School, Thailand
• Dr. Kym Anderson, Lead Economist, The World Bank

Closing session Closing remarks:

• Dr. Yan Wang, Senior Economist and Task Team Leader, World Bank Institute
• Mr. Soukhine Manosine, Deputy Director of Economics, NOSPA
• Mr. Inthavong Khedpangna, Deputy Head of Foreign Relations, NOSPA