ESTABLISHMENT OF TRAINING MODULES AND CONDUCTING RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES

I was invited and attended two Executive courses [training of trainers] for CIS/Balkan countries on issues of International trade in services organized by the WBI at Joint Vienna Institute (JVI) at Vienna, Austria (22-28 February and 12-16 April). Along with the government officials representatives of selected academic institutions from Eastern Europe have also participated in abovementioned seminars. During the courses experts from the World Bank Institute (WBI), World Trade Organization (WTO) and other institutions made presentations on various aspects of international trade in services, such as economics of trade in services, General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), services trade negotiations, Regional Free Trade Areas (FTA), transport and logistical services trade. I was one of the active participants and it was specially mentioned by the Director of the Project, World Bank Lead Economist Mr. Gianni Zanini at the end of the events. As an outcome, the World Bank Institute decided to choose four academic institutions for close collaboration in the area of delivering course on international trade in services. Khazar University, as well as Russian Foreign Trade Institute, Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), the International School of Economics at the Tbilisi State University (ISET) were chosen as WBI counterparts. After consultations with WBI experts, I started to work on proposal concerning teaching and research activities to be conducted by the CEPD/Khazar University in Azerbaijan and other countries of the Caspian Sea region. CEPD/KU will consider possibility of incorporation of the annual course in the program of the department of “Economy and Management” at the KU entitled International Trade in Goods and Services for undergraduate and graduate students. The course would include basics of International trade, WTO, GATT & GATS, negotiations skills, accession impact, trade in goods and services with specific accent on energy, transportation, tourism and ICT, as well as agriculture. This course will be conducted in English. The same course/training module can be organized in the form of one-week Executive Program (non-degree, certificate) for representatives of government institutions, private sector and academia. This course will be conducted in English,however, if necessary, translation into Azerbaijani will be also provided by teaching professors. In preparation/improvement of the aforementioned courses/training modules the teachers/professors from KU will rely on support from World Bank Institute and World Bank office in Baku, Azerbaijan. The teaching of the course will be assigned to me (who besides knowing Azerbaijani also is fluent in English and Russian) has already taught similar course at the Khazar University in fall of 2009 entitled “WTO and International Trade Opportunities for Azerbaijan” which was unique for high education system in Azerbaijan. It is expected that CEPD/KU will be working on capacity building issues to make this activities long-term. Thus, new faculty and experts will be engaged in teaching and research process. CEPD/KU will have consultations with relevant ministries, government institutions and private sector representatives on possibility of conducting of training programs. Upon completion of the Executive program [training course] conducted by CEPD/KU participants will be provided by Certificates of Participation to be issued by KU and WBI. Within this proposal specific attention will be giving to research activities conducted by KU faculty and students. Among topics of particular interest would be impact analysis of WTO accession on Eastern European and Former Soviet Union /FSU/ countries, FTAs in the region, cooperation with EU, trade in agriculture, trade in services [energy and transportation services in particular]. In order to improve level of teaching and research activities representatives of KU will be receiving further opportunity to participate in training programs organized by the WBI. To make the project efficient and sustainable WBI will consider possibility to share information on future training programs on WTO and international trade issues organized by other international institutions. The main outcome of this proposal will be preparation of flexible modules on international trade in goods and services that can be successfully taught in various universities and organizations in Azerbaijan and the other countries of Caspian Sea region. Country specific strategies and policy recommendations will also be prepared. Taking into account important role of Azerbaijan in developing of oil and gas resources development of Executive course on Caspian energy/energy services will be one of priorities. WBI can provide expert on energy services who can make presentations in video conference format. Taking into account abovementioned CEPD/KU will ask WBI to consider possibility of implementation of this proposal.