UNCTAD and WTI promote cooperative relationship in investment

The cooperation between the two organisations will encompass four elements:

• Cooperation in the organisation of the World Trade Forum, in September 2011, that will focus specifically on international investment policies;

• Participation of experts from both institutions in various training activities organised by UNCTAD and the WTI on international investment law and policy;

• Promotion of joint research projects; and

• Development of a pilot project on investor-State dispute prevention policies.

Building on more than 35 years of experience, UNCTAD is the focal point within the United Nations system on all matters related to international investment and development. Considered worldwide as a centre of excellence in international investment policy, UNCTAD is recognised as the de facto secretariat backstopping the multi-layered and multi-faceted international investment system, with a particular emphasis on the development dimension. UNCTAD provides research and policy analysis; monitoring and information services; technical assistance and capacity building; and inter-governmental consensus-building services (the UNCTAD Investment Commission and its expert meetings, with 196 member States).

The WTI is one of the world’s leading centers of graduate training and research on the law, economics, and policy of trade regulation.  Its “I³” has three objectives:

• To analyse the multiple interactions between international trade and international investment law and policy, exploring synergies between them and fostering a more integrated study and application of international economic law;

• To undertake cutting-edge research and training on international investment law and policy, aiming to address the needs of different stakeholders involved in international investment relations such as governments, investors engaged in international investment, and inter-governmental, non-governmental and other academic institutions; and

• To provide a forum where the different stakeholders can have a well-informed and constructive dialogue on investment-related issues.

“This is a timely cooperative endeavor after the strong message we received from the World Investment Forum held in Xiamen in September 2010,” said James Zhan, Director of the Division on Investment and Enterprise of UNCTAD, alluding to the G15 of Law Schools Project launched at WIF2010 that is dedicated to promoting academic exchanges on international investment law.

“With this cooperative relationship, both UNCTAD and the WTI are setting an important example on how international organisations and the academia can work together to better achieve their respective endeavors” said  Roberto Echandi, Programme Director of “I³”.