Capacity Development for Bhutan’s Accession to the WTO in partnership with Royal Government of Bhutan

The Centre for WTO Studies (CWS) at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, in collaboration with the Royal Government of Bhutan, successfully conducted a four-day Program for Capacity Development for Bhutan’s Accession to the WTO from 22nd to 25th January 2024 at the CWS premises in New Delhi. The program aimed to build institutional and technical capacity among Bhutanese officials to support the country’s prospective accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The program featured a comprehensive curriculum covering the structure, functions, and negotiation mechanisms of the WTO, dispute settlement procedures, trade in services, trade defense measures, and digital trade challenges. Sessions were led by distinguished experts including former WTO officials, Indian trade negotiators, and senior government representatives such as Shri Harsha Vardhana Singh, Prof. Abhijit Das, Shri Rajeev Kher, and Shri Jayant Dasgupta.
A key highlight was the inclusion of comparative insights from Nepal and Liberia’s WTO accession experiences, presented by Mr. Posh Raj Pandey and Mr. Axel Addy, respectively. The program concluded with a panel discussion and brainstorming session, offering participants the opportunity to engage directly with faculty and refine their understanding of WTO accession dynamics.
This initiative reflects CWS’s commitment to regional cooperation and capacity building in international trade policy, equipping Bhutanese stakeholders with the knowledge and tools necessary for informed participation in the multilateral trading system.