Lanka needs more trade negotiators

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka needs a bigger pool of experts in trade negotiations to get the benefits of trade negotiations to the country and the Commerce Department would make arrangements to conduct more relevant courses in the near future, Director General Commerce Department Manel De Silva said.

De Silva was addressing the participants of the first ever National Intensive Course on Trade Negotiation Skills held at the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA) last week. The course was conducted by Counsellor, Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation of WTO Geneva Dr Dickson Yeboah.

Having listened to the summing up comments of the course de Silva hoped that the participants would be able to bring positive results through the knowledge gained from the course at the next round of negotiations.

Dr. Yeboah, a highly respected figure in WTO circles, said that countries like Thailand conduct two or three of these courses every year.

This course was scheduled for Sri Lanka since 2003 and unfortunately it was delayed due to various reasons. He stated that the news reports in Europe gave him a completely different view about the security situation and he was surprised to see a peaceful environment in the country.

Yebaoh pointed out eight steps required for successful negotiations namely creating the right environment, researching objectives, deciding who you are and your negotiating partners, opening the negotiations, talking and listening, making proposals, summarising and closing. He said that Sri Lankan participants of the course were highly enthusiastic, committed and well understood the importance of developing negotiation skills and the country will be immensely benefited by sending them for trade negotiations.

Among the comments of the participants the necessity of safeguarding the national interest, importance of getting prepared, building confidence among countries and gaining an advanced knowledge starting from the minister downward and having a team of professional resource persons on a continuous basis.

The course consisted of lectures on WTO principles, negotiating framework for reduction of trade barriers, general agreement on trade in service and followed by practical negotiations sessions.