WTO Reference centre opens

A WTO Reference Centre (WRC) was officially inaugurated in Ha Noi on Jan. 11 with the aim of providing members with information relating to the organisation through its websites and publications.

In a speech delivered at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Le Danh Vinh said the centre was the first and the only one so far in Viet Nam.

Government agencies, offices, localities and businesses would be provided with reliable and up-to-date information on commercial policies and issues relating to the WTO, Vinh said, adding that the centre would act as a bridge to receive technical support in education and training from the WTO.

Head of WRC Mustapha Sadni Jallab said the country would benefit from issues relating to commerce and the WTO through the centre.

With the establishment, the WRC has become the the WTO's 154th centre.

The centre currently has 151 documents available for reference, divided into 32 different issues including dictionaries, commercial negotiation rounds, disputes and commercial agreements.

The WRC programme was launched in 1997 and operates in over 100 countries.

The WTO supported Viet Nam's construction and operation of the WRC based on discussions between Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and WTO's General Secretary Pascal Lamy last January.

The first training class was held following the launch.

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