Working Group on Trade and Investment (WGTI)

The WGTI is the main body tasked with improving trade and investment policies in IORA and was established in 1999.

The Working Group on Trade and Investment (WGTI) exists to explore possibilities and avenues for IORA Member States to cooperate to promote trade liberalization to remove impediments to, and lower barriers towards, freer and enhanced flow of goods, services, investment, and technology within the region.

The WGTI maintains a Work Plan of initiatives by Member States to facilitate Trade and Investment Facilitation in the Indian Ocean region. The Work Plan is premised on the Jakarta Concord and IORA Action Plan 2017-2021. It includes activities to support the implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, identify and reduce Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), share lessons and knowledge on improving the business environment, promote regional supply chains and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and facilitate government, business and academic engagement. The WGTI is a ‘Functional Body’ of IORA. The WGTI works closely with business and academic trade experts. It is currently chaired by Australia. 

 

The WGTI last met on 18 June 2019 as part of the Modernising Trade in the Indian Ocean Rim Conference in Durban, South Africa. Read the conference report here.

 

To find out more about the WGTI, contact us at hq@iora.int

Events:

Trade Experts Meeting 30-31 January 2020

Modernising Trade Conference 2019