NAMIBIA: WTO research chair launched

World Trade Organisation Deputy Director General Dr Harsha Singh has officially launched a research chair at the University of Namibia, four months after it became one of 14 universities from developing countries selected to hold WTO chairs for four years.

Singh told the gathering that he expected the chairs to be a bridge connecting the WTO to stakeholders in member countries, and to enhance their understanding of the WTO as well as the ongoing Doha negotiations.

The chairs were an integral part of WTO efforts to advance technical assistance and capacity augmentation through its Aid For Trade programme, which encourages teaching and research on international trade issues, he added.

"By imparting knowledge to as many students as possible in the areas of international trade law and policy, the chairs programme will equip new graduates with the requisite knowledge and skills to make a positive contribution to formulation of trade policy in their countries."

Deputy dean of the University of Namibia's faculty of economics and management science, Dr Omu Kakujaha-Matundu, holds the chair. He has two co-chairs: Dr Lesley Blaauw from the same faculty, and the law faculty's Professor John Baloro.

Kakujaha-Matundu said the programme would greatly assist Namibia and Southern Africa to create a much-needed pool of experts on trade issues, which governments could draw on. There are currently few experts in the area and there has been little research on pertinent trade issues such as Africa's economic partnership agreement with the European Union.

He told University World News the chair would also assist Namibia's government, agricultural organisations and the business community "to have policy-related research that they can tap into to advance their interests".

Under the programme, the university will introduce a postgraduate diploma and masters degree in international trade in 2012. One outstanding masters student will be awarded a three-month attachment to the global trading regulatory body's headquarters in Geneva.

Draft curricula for the two courses have been developed and are progressing through the university's internal approval processes before being sent to the Namibia Qualifications Authority for accreditation.

The programme will also introduce trade and policy electives at the undergraduate level in the faculties of law and of economics and management science, and will offer trade-related short courses to parliamentary committees, NGOs and the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

WTO experts will join as guest lecturers via video conferencing. The WTO has agreed to fund a reference center equipped with computers and a copier, and the university has committed to building a database of trade policy-related issues.

University of Namibia Vice-chancellor, Professor Lazarus Hangula, described the programme as significant. He said it consolidated cooperation between the WTO and university in international trade law and policy, and would boost teaching and research in this area.

The university was previously selected by the WTO to offer a regional trade policy course to English-speaking African countries from 2005 to 2007.

In a speech delivered on his behalf, Namibia's Trade and Industry Minister Dr Hage Geingob described the partnership as an important milestone in the government's quest for sustainable technical assistance and capacity building in international trade law.

He said Namibia, like other African countries, faced difficulties trade negotiations and in implementing WTO agreements due to lack of institutional and technical capacity. The partnership between the WTO and university, he added, was "sustainable since it is built in a system and not around individuals".