CTP Supports CLDP Events in Ukraine and Pakistan

Economic Modeling and Trade Policy Development for Ukraine

January 20-21, 2014 – Kyiv, Ukraine — CTP is currently organizing a two-day workshop on Economic Modeling and WTO Trade Policy Development for about 35 Ukrainian government officials as part of a multi-phase technical assistance program conducted by CTP’s longtime client Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP). CLDP is partnering with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT) and the Government of Ukraine to improve the quality of trade and economic policy formulation in Ukraine’s efforts to fulfill World Trade Organization (WTO) rights and obligations. CLDP will undertake training and utilize the economic modeling resources of the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) to enable the relevant Ukrainian ministries and agencies to conduct global trade analysis and apply quantitative analysis in policy making. This second-phase workshop will assist Ukraine in establishing a knowledgeable core of officials who will utilize quantitative economic analysis in free trade negotiations and to conduct macroeconomic policy forecasts. Completion of this multi-phase program will enable Ukraine to conduct a more economically justified approach to the formulation of its future trade policy and positions in negotiations with both WTO members and other parties.

Commercial Law Assistance to Afghanistan

December 11- 13, 2013 – Islamabad, Pakistan — CTP supported U.S. experts in Islamabad last month as they provided technical assistance to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) to enhance the Afghan private sector by promoting economic growth through the advancement of commercial law. The objective of this program was to help improve the commercial legal capacity and written and oral advocacy skills of Afghan legal students. CTP provided a full range of planning and logistics services, enabling the CLDP attorneys and legal experts from George Mason University Law School to conduct this training program for the Kabul University (KU) Willem C Vis International Arbitration Competition Moot (Vis Moot) team. CLDP is sponsoring an all-female team from KU to participate in the Vis Moot, one of the most prestigious international law moot court competitions, to be held in Hong Kong in March 2014. The goal of the Vis Moot is to foster the study of international commercial law and arbitration for the resolution of international business disputes through methods of alternative dispute resolution. Students from all over the world prepare two memorandums, one for the Claimant and one for the Respondent, and then travel in March to compete in oral argument rounds. The process of team selection and preparation is rigorous and requires months of training and practice. The CLDP training will focus on preparing the KU team in writing Claimant’s briefs, Respondent’s briefs, crafting the fundamentals of oral argumentation, and general skill building in furtherance of Vis goals. Preparation for, and participation in, the Vis Moot Arbitration Competition will provide Afghan law students with unparalleled access and experience in commercial law. The KU Vis Moot team will be well-equipped to handle commercial business disputes, thus bolstering Afghanistan’s legal capacity.