WTO Chairs Programme activities launched at Dominican Republic university

The WTO Chairs Programme (WCP) aims to support and promote trade-related academic activities by universities and research institutions in developing and least-developed WTO member economies. Projects are funded for a period of four years and continue through support from their institutions, members, and other stakeholders that draw on them. The goal of the programme is to build capacity in international trade through research, curriculum development and outreach.

WTO Deputy Director-General Xiangchen Zhang said the key activities of the Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) for the current year will centre on trade and environment sustainability, and in particular finding solutions that reduce plastics pollution.

“This focus is certainly timely and relevant, particularly for an island economy like the Dominican Republic, which must grapple with the effects of climate change,” DDG Zhang said. “As you continue to seek growth while facing the challenges confronting your island economy, the Chair at UNIBE will be a valuable resource in providing tailored research and constructive engagement on key trade issues.”

The WCP is funded by France, Austria and the Republic of Korea. With the addition of this institution, the WCP network has expanded within the Central American region, which was previously under-represented.

Ambassador Emmanuelle Ivanov-Durand, Permanent Representative of France to the WTO, said: “Your work can help us to meet the challenges of our time, particularly in the field of sustainable development, and thereby make the system even more efficient. The courses you will be setting up on trade and environmental sustainability will undoubtedly contribute to our reflection.”

Also present at the event was Ambassador José R. Sánchez-Fung, Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the WTO, who recognized this as an important milestone. “The Dominican Republic welcomes the WCP Chair at UNIBE. The Programme will be instrumental in developing our country’s ability to participate in the global trading system and contribute productively to the rest of the WTO’s membership."

UNIBE is now part of a global network that facilitates cooperation between governments, universities and multilateral organizations. Vilma Arbaje, Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade at the Dominican Republic's Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs, congratulated Odile Camilo, Rector of UNIBE: “The establishment of the WCP Chair at UNIBE consolidates this institution as a regional reference centre in training and research applied to trade and opens up new possibilities for integrating knowledge into the processes of designing and implementing more effective and sustainable public policies for the Ministry of Industry, Trade and MSMEs.

"This collaboration represents a valuable opportunity to expand our institutional capacities, strengthen ties with the academic world and reinforce the country's projection in spaces for global dialogue on trade," she added.

During the event, a panel comprising representatives of the government and the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic discussed the importance of the circular economy in the Dominican Republic, offering insights into its future direction. Changing regulations offer a chance for transformation and concrete opportunities for sustainable and competitive development, participants said.

The industrial sector has already taken steps toward transforming production. Manuel Diaz Franjul, Director of Trade Negotiations for Economic Affairs and International Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: “As we saw today, trade and the environment and associated policies are a key issue at the international level, and the best way to overcome any differences that arise is through direct engagement."