DG Azevêdo thanks first participants in WTO’s Young Professionals Programme
Director-General Roberto Azevêdo thanked the first participants in the WTO Young Professionals Programme on 27 November for their hard work and contributions as they wrapped up their one-year placement at the WTO. The group said their “eye-opening” experience has “equipped us with the capacity to excel as international trade practitioners”.
The first cohort of five young professionals – two from the Dominican Republic, and one each from Chile, Montenegro and Chinese Taipei – were selected from more than 800 candidates after a competitive selection process. They started working in the WTO in early 2017 and spent their year in the WTO Secretariat learning about the organization’s work and contributing to its activities.
DG Azevêdo noted the programme was created to enhance the knowledge of WTO issues among young professionals from developing and least-developed members, with a special focus on those members that are not currently represented at the professional level in the Secretariat. The first year was so successful that the programme is being expanded to 15 participants in 2018.
“Trade has the power to make a big difference to people’s lives and prospects around the world. A big part of that is to invest in people like you. It makes me very hopeful for the future,” he said.
“You will be returning home with a huge amount of knowledge and expertise. So I hope you will share this knowledge, put it to good use in helping your governments engage in the WTO and benefit from the global trading system.”
Deputy Director-General Yonov Frederick Agah added that the WTO hoped to monitor the progress of the YPP participants as they advanced their careers, be it with their home governments, the WTO or other regional international organizations. “Your success will mean much more to this programme than anything you can imagine,” he said.
The five participants said their year at the WTO “has complemented and enhanced our capacity in international trade far beyond what we had imagined”.
“We got to see the rules and practices in action, and more importantly, see the broader context of the trade issues,” Yi-Fang Lee said on behalf of the group. “Coming from unrepresented members meant that we could bring new angles and cultural context to the Secretariat, identify potential opportunities, fresh thinking, and innovative strategies for the WTO.”
Source:wto.org
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