World Integrated Trade Solution Training

Introduction

Local experts including the stakeholders of the project shall conduct analysis on the topic of trade and employment. It is planned to use the Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) approach as one tool for analysis as well as a tool that be trained to be used within Ministries and by social partners. To calculate the impact of trade policy changes on imports which could then be used as the trade shocks for further analysis in the SAM approach the SMART model in the World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS) can be used.

In addition, WITS can give access to 5 databases containing important information about trade that is necessary for analysis of issues on trade and employment. UNCTAD has developed WITS in close collaboration with the World Bank and is in a very good position to provide training for WITS.

Objectives

The objective of this training is to build the capacity of social partners and government officials to analyse the effects of trade on employment and formulate coherent trade and employment policies. The training is envisaged to bring together social partners and government officials working on trade, labour and social policy issues.

Target groups

The workshop is targeted to high-level government officials, trade union representatives, employers’ organizations and civil society representatives.

Training report

The training is mainly related to software application, therefore the training is based on face to face interaction which allowed a constructive communication and exchange of experience between instructor and participants. This way it stimulates participants to learn more.

Participants were asked to take with them their own laptop as all participants need to download the application software in their computer.

Mr. Hiroaki Kuwahara, Chief, Trade Information Section, Trade Analysis Branch, Division for International Trade, UNCTAD as the Training Instructor.

The participants were representatives from the Government Ministries, such as the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration (MOMT), Ministry of Trade, Board of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS), National Statistics Office (NSO), trade unions representative and employers’ association (APINDO). In total there were 13 participants.

The WITS training went well. The high interest of participants could be observed from their full attendance and very high enthusiasm in understanding the subject. This training would be very useful for the next technical training on Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) and it would be better if this WITS application is to be disseminated to wider audience.