IDEAS CENTRE

Our Projects

“Sometimes a step back or away from an idea, task or project brings even more perspective, insight and clarity.” ― Rasheed Ogunlaru

Serbia accession

Serbia accession

THE PROJECT Timeline: 2003 - PresentDonor: Switzerland (SECO)Beneficiary: Serbia Serbia started its independent process of accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2005, having spent four years negotiating accession in a joint bid with Montenegro as a part...

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ASEAN LDCs

ASEAN LDCs

THE PROJECT Timeline: 2016 - 2018 Donors: Australia (DFAT) Beneficiary: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar Background In 2016/2017 IDEAS Centre has implemented a DFAT-funded project to support Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar participation in trade negotiations and trade...

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UEMOA Support for MC11

UEMOA Support for MC11

THE PROJECT Timeline: 2017 Donor: Commission de l'UEMOA Beneficiaries: Commission de l'UEMOA, Benin, Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo L’article 84 du Traité de l’UEMOA indique que « l’Union conclut des accords internationaux dans...

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Lao PDR post-accession

Lao PDR post-accession

THE PROJECT Timeline: 2014 - 2017 Donors: Switzerland (SECO) Beneficiary: Lao PDR Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) became the 158th member of the WTO on 2 February 2013. The country has used the accession process to modernize its trade regime and to adopt...

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Myanmar trade strategy

Myanmar trade strategy

THE PROJECT Timeline: 2016 - 2017 Donor: Germany (GIZ)  Beneficiary: Myanmar After years of isolation from the international community, the government of Myanmar initiated in 2011 a process of economic and political reforms with a view to open its market to trade and...

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Capacity building with ECOWAS

Capacity building with ECOWAS

THE PROJECT Timeline: 2016 Donors: Trade Advocacy Fund, UK (TAF) Beneficiaries: ECOWAS Members : Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo ECOWAS envisions...

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Liberia accession

Liberia accession

THE PROJECT Timeline: 2012, 2015 Donor: Switzerland (SECO), SIDA Beneficiary: Liberia The Republic of Liberia submitted its application to accede to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on 13 June 2007. The Working Party was established on 18 December 2007. The...

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Mongolia

Mongolia

THE PROJECT Timeline: 2014 - 2015Donors: Germany (GIZ) , Trade Policy and Promotion FundBeneficiary: Mongolia Background Mongolia is landlocked developing economy seeking to fully integrate into the world trading system. As a staunch supporter of multilateralism, the...

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Kyrgyz Republic

Kyrgyz Republic

THE PROJECT Timeline: 2013 - 2015 Donors: Germany (GIZ), Switzerland (SECO) Beneficiary: Kyrgyzstan Background The Kyrgyz Republic acceded to the WTO in late 1998 and has since been a major regional driving force in terms of trade regulation. With the second Trade...

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Lao PDR accession

Lao PDR accession

THE PROJECT Timeline: 2007 - 2013Donor: Switzerland (SECO)Beneficiary: Lao PDR Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) is the last country from South East Asia that has acceded to the WTO (2 February 2013), although it has been seeking membership since 1997. The...

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The Cotton Project

The Cotton Project

THE PROJECT Cotton Project I Timeline: 2003 - 2008 Donors: Denmark (MFA), Sweden (MFA), Germany (BMZ), The Netherlands (MFA), Switzerland (SECO), UK (DFID), France (MFA) Beneficiary: Burkina Faso, Benin, Chad, Mali   Cotton Project II Timeline: 2009 - 2010...

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LDC accession to the WTO

LDC accession to the WTO

THE PROJECT Timeline: 2011 - 2012Donor: Switzerland (SECO)Beneficiary: LDCs Background Accession to the WTO provides an opportunity for countries to integrate into the world economy and to implement economic and trade reforms, but the process entails huge efforts by...

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Lebanon accession

Lebanon accession

THE PROJECT Timeline: 2002 - 2011Donor: Switzerland (SECO)Beneficiary: Lebanon  Shortly after independence in 1943, Lebanon acceded to the GATT as a founding member in 1947 and became a model for social and economic development in the Middle East. The country was...

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Tajikistan accession

Tajikistan accession

THE PROJECT Timeline: 2005 - 2011 Donor: Switzerland (SECO) Beneficiary: Tajikistan Tajikistan submitted its application for membership to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in May 2001. The Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime was submitted to the WTO in February...

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Tunisia

Tunisia

THE PROJECT Timeline: 2009Donor: France (AFD) Beneficiary: Tunisia Background In 2008, bilateral negotiations between Tunisia and the EU for the integration of agriculture in the Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area were launched. At that time, three rounds of...

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Mozambique

Mozambique

THE PROJECT Timeline: 2004 - 2011 Donor: Switzerland (SECO)  Beneficiary: Mozambique This project started in 2005 with the aim of strengthening the capacities of the Mozambican Government for the WTO negotiations on agriculture in the Doha Round. It aimed at...

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Viet Nam accession

Viet Nam accession

THE PROJECT Timeline: 2002 - 2007 Donor: Switzerland (SECO) Beneficiary: Viet Nam The Vietnamese Government applied for World Trade Organisation (WTO) membership in 1994 and a Working Party was established in January 1995. On 2 May 1997, the Swiss Confederation and...

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