UNCTAD joint regional training addresses reform of IIAs

19 Feb 2018

Today UNCTAD, together with its partners, has kicked off a joint regional training in Bangkok to empower countries in the region to modernize their existing stock of old-generation IIAs in line with today’s sustainable development (SD) imperative. The training has been organized in cooperation with the International Institute for Trade and development (ITD) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, and in collaboration with the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).

Participants are welcomed by Mr. Arthayudh Srisamoot, Director-General, Department of International Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand; Ms. Elisabeth Tuerk, Chief, Section on International Investment Agreements, Division on Investment and Enterprise, UNCTAD; and Dr. Kamalinne Pinitpuvadol, Executive Director of the International Institute for Trade and Development. The opening speakers noted the importance of enhancing coordination and synchronization among the participating countries to find common pathways to implement Phase 2 of the IIA Reform with the support and under the guidance of UNCTAD.

Targeting over 30 developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region, the training will provide participants with knowledge on key issues regarding the different phases of SD-oriented reform of the international investment agreements (IIA) regime and by facilitating discussions and exchanges of experiences in this regard. Participants will be sensitized to key reform issues and enabled to use UNCTAD policy tools (UNCTAD’s Investment Policy Framework for Sustainable Development (2012, updated 2015), and UNCTAD’s Reform Package for the International Investment Regime (2017) (consolidating UNCTAD’s Roadmap for IIA Reform (World Investment Report (WIR)16) and 10 Policy Options for Phase 2 of IIA Reform (WIR17))), with a view to implementing them in their day-to-day policy practice.