Meetings at the ICPE headquarters during the ICPE-UNCTAD Workshop on Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) in the World Trade (8-9 October 2014, Ljubljana)

During the workshop ICPE Acting Director General Janez Podobnik had successful meetings with several speakers and participants. Among them he met Mr. Ralf Peters, Chief, Trade Information Section, UNCTAD, Mr. Eliseu Freitas, Counselor and Deputy Ambassador of the Embassy of the Republic of Angola to the Republic of Austria and Mr. Minh Duc Le, First Secretary, Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Republic of Austria. During the meetings all parties expressed their satisfaction with the presentations delivered during the workshop, the workshop organization and ICPE hospitality. It was stressed that all speakers possessed a high-level expertise, which was appreciated by the participants who also engaged very actively in all sessions. The number of discussed issues and raised questions confirmed that the subject of “Non-Tariff Measures” is really very important for administrations all over the world.

During the discussion with Mr. Peters it was emphasized the importance of considering the next steps in promoting and presenting NTMs as well as some other subjects which could be relevant for ICPE Member States as well as ICPE partners. Mr. Peters supported ICPE’s position and invited Mr. Podobnik to visit UNCTAD in the near future. The concrete talking points to be discussed between the ICPE leadership and Mr. Guillermo Valles, Director of Division on International trade in Goods and Services and Commodities (UNCTAD) were defined. Mr. Peters specially thanked ICPE for the workshop’s successful organization and warm hospitality in Ljubljana.

(From left) Mr. Nenad Stankovic, ICPE representative in Vienna, Mr. Ralf Peters, Chief, Trade Information Section, UNCTAD, Mr. Janez Podobnik, ICPE Acting Director General, Mr. Zvone Dragan, Special Advisor to ICPE DG

At the meeting with Mr. Freitas, Mr. Podobnik presented ICPE programs, projects, ongoing and planned activities with a focus on the specific needs stipulated in the Memorandum of Understanding signed between ICPE and Angola’s Government. It was agreed that Angola as an ICPE Member State will renew its priorities according to which ICPE will prepare a new Action Plan for the next period. Mr. Freitas thanked ICPE for organizing very successful and useful workshop. He stressed that NTMs is obviously a very important topic and asked ICPE to consider the possibility to organize some follow-up activities in this field.

(From left) Mr. Nenad Stankovic, ICPE representative in Vienna, Mr. Zvone Dragan, Special Advisor to ICPE DG, Mr. Eliseu Freitas, Counselor and Deputy Ambassador of the Embassy of the Republic of Angola to the Republic of Austria, Mr. Janez Podobnik, ICPE Acting Director General

Mr. Le appreciated the information about ICPE, its forty-year history, as well as the presented programs and activities, especially in the human capacity building area. He expressed his interest in the ICPE MBA program and specific trainings related to energy efficiency that ICPE organizes together with UNIDO. With the aim to define some mutual projects and activities it was agreed to continue the dialogue and intensify the exchange of information between ICPE and the Embassy of Vietnam in Vienna.

ICPE representatives together with Mr. Minh Duc Le, First Secretary, Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Republic of Austria