December 7 , 2005
IN THIS ALERT:
WTO Releases Revised Hong Kong Ministerial Text
The WTO today (December 7, 2005) released a 3rd revised version of the Director-General's draft ministerial text. Of note is that the reference to Annex C on services (page 3) has now been put in square brackets at the request of the ASEAN, CARICOM and African countries among others. It can be downloaded here: http://www.uscsi.org/publications/papers/hkdraft_text3.pdf
Roundtable on Financial Services Liberalization in Hong Kong, Dec 16
All GSN Members are invited to join the Financial Leaders Group (FLG) in a roundtable discussion “Financial Services Liberalization: Critical for Economic Growth and Job Creation” during the WTO Ministerial in Hong Kong. The meeting will be held in the Convention Centre, NGO Centre, Room C at 1 Expo Drive, Wanchai, Hong Kong, China on December 16, 2005 at 10.00 a.m. The purpose of this roundtable is to highlight the critical importance of financial services liberalization for overall economic growth, for improving trading networks, and for financial stability. The roundtable will including participants from several emerging markets and will present a broad range of views. This seminar should appeal to a cross-section of trade negotiators, regulators and industry representatives from the WTO member countries. Ample opportunity will be provided for all to participate in open dialogue. A draft agenda for the seminar can be found at below and at www.flwg.org It would be helpful for interested persons to register ahead of time at: http://ga4.org/csi/events/HKflg_roundtable_121605/details.tcl
Financial Leaders Group Roundtable
Financial Services Liberalization: Critical for Economic Growth & Job Creation
Friday, December 16, 2005
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Hong Kong Convention Centre
NGO Centre Room C
The Financial Leaders Group is pleased to invite you to attend a WTO Services Roundtable on the morning of December 16. Topics to be discussed will include: Insurance and Insurance Intermediaries; Banking; Securities; and Asset Management, Pensions and Financial Information. Each participant will discuss:
a) Benefits of financial services for development
b) Difficulties faced in liberalizing financial services
c) Their own experiences with financial services liberalization
Below is the current agenda:
I. Opening remarks and welcome by moderator
- Stephen Haddrill, Director General, Association of British Insurers
II. The Developmental Benefits of Financial Services Liberalization
a. Mr. Sumanta Chauduri, Ministry of Commerce, India*
b. Mr. Audo Faleiro, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brazil*
c. Mr. Peter Govindasamy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore &
......................Chairman Working Party On Domestic Regulation
d. Ms. Mpho Leeska, Department of Trade and Industry, South Africa*
e. Assistant Secretary Clay Lowery, U.S. Treasury*
f. Mr. Raul Saez, Ministry of Finance, Chile*
g. Ms. Jen-Ni Yang, Department of Commerce, Taiwan*
III. Question and answer and discussion
IV. Concluding remarks and summary of session by moderator
* - Invited |
