INSIDE THE SYNTHESIS AND EVALUATION (S&E) WORKSHOP ON ENHANCING THE UTILIZATION OF FTA BY SMES, TRADE NEGOTIATION AND TRADE POLICY DEVELOPMENT

Trade and Investment Facilitation

Funded by New Zealand Aid Programme (NZAP), Trade and Investment Facilitation Department of Mekong Institute (MI) organized a Synthesis and Evaluation (S&E) Workshop on Enhancing the Utilization of Free Trade Area (FTA) by SMEs and Trade Negotiation and Trade Policy Development on December 16, 2013 in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The participants in this workshop were a group of nineteen MI alumni from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) who attended two previous training programs on FTA utilization and Trade Negotiation conducted on June 17-21, 2013 and July 29- August 2, 2013, respectively at MI Residential Training Center in Khon Kaen, Thailand. They implemented country-wise joint action plans during July-September and August-November 2013 periods. 

As the final part of the MI modular training, the S&E workshop provided a platform for reflecting on the localized training package. This was achieved through the National Workshops on enhancing the utilization of FTA by SMEs in CLMV, as the participants exchanged experiences and shared learned lesson. It also provided some knowledge on ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and trade negotiation and Trade Policy Development in these four Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) countries. 

By targeting the provided insights mentioned above, the workshop’s objective was to: 

Recall the knowledge gained from the training program on enhancing the utilization of FTA by SMEs, trade negotiation, trade policy development and assessed the application of the knowledge and skills;Share experiences from the implementation of action plans and obtain feedback from co- participants;Provide an opportunity for implementing trainees to learn, share best practices and utilize results of their learning process;Evaluate the modular training approach in order to provide recommendations for its improvement in terms of contents, structure and duration. 

The presentation and knowledge sharing session were arranged in the forms of information market displays, including displays of case studies, best practices, challenging issues, photos, videos, posters and power point presentation. 

At the end of the workshop, the participants discussed in groups on challenges, strategies to enhance the FTA utilization by SMEs, and development of trade negotiation skills in CLMV countries. They reflected on the challenges facing them in utilizing FTA, accessing to finance and market, and adopting technology, innovation and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).The results led to discussion on development of strategies to overcome its challenges regarding establishment of the ASEAN SME development fund, credit guarantee scheme, ASEAN SME business portal and FTA database development.

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Mrs. Guohua Liu

Director, Sustainable Energy & Environment (SEE) Department

Mrs. Liu Guohua is the Director of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Department at the Mekong Institute. Prior to this role, she worked in the Department of International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, where she played a key role in shaping and implementing China’s cooperation strategies with UN development agencies. During this time, Mrs. Liu was actively involved in advancing initiatives related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on climate change and green development. Additionally, she contributed to the evaluation of projects funded by various Chinese initiatives, such as the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, etc.

In addition to her work in the Department of International Economic Affairs, Mrs. Liu has an extensive diplomatic background. She spent 7 years in the Department of African Affairs, followed by a 4-year tenure at the Chinese Embassy in Lao PDR, where she gained deep expertise in both Southeast Asian and African affairs. These diverse experiences have played a crucial role in shaping her approach to sustainable development and international collaboration, particularly in building regional partnerships and tackling global challenges like climate change.

She holds a Master’s degree in Economics, with a specialization in Finance, from the Central University of Finance and Economics, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, specializing in International Economics and Trade, from the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics.