ITFC and ITC provide hands-on training to Saudis

Under the partnership agreement between the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) and the International Trade Center (ITC), a number of workshops on market analysis tools and the creation of market profiles were organized in Riyadh and Jeddah, within the framework of the Aid for Trade Initiative for Arab States Program.

The workshops were hosted by the Saudi Export Development Authority and familiarized participants with relevant analytical skills to scrutinize international demand, level of competition and market-access conditions.

The participants, who included several women, benefited from rigorous hands-on training to develop a market profile on products of their interest. They also had the opportunity to network and benefit from the exchange of international trade experience.

The International Trade Center is also conducting a national trade facilitation workshop this month for the private sector, focused on the proper implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).

Another workshop will be conducted to determine Saudi Arabia’s key trade facilitation needs and priorities, and to offer advice on the implementation of the remaining measures of the TFA as well as other key trade facilitation reforms.

These training sessions will help participants identify the measures in the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), benefit from the strategies and measures stipulated in the TFA, and determine how to become part of the regulatory and implementation process of the TFA.

The purpose of the Aid for Trade Initiative for Arab States Program is to foster inclusive economic growth and increased employment in Arab states through the promotion of trade reforms and the broader development agenda, and the deepening of regional integration and regional and national AfT engagement.

ITC is responsible for improving transparency about non-tariff measures, creating regional trade intelligence capacities of specific TSIs, strengthening TPO capacities in a selected number of countries and supporting a more effective participation of the Arab group in the WTO process.