The purpose of this workshop was to provide training to staff from various ministries on trade in services and investment facilitation. Jordan experiences capacity problems in participating in multilateral and regional negotiations, where deep integration is often sought, which means that complex trade in services must also be included in the negotiations. In addition, it is a region where foreign direct investment has been meagre, while diversification of the economy is a key objective. For this reason, building capacity in these areas is necessary.

On the first day, the topic was Jordan's trade flows in services with the rest of the world. It looked at the size of these flows and also distinguished different modes of trade in services. It is clear that tourism is a key business for Jordan, but increasingly business services are critical. The latter is especially related to industrialization challenges that require participation in global value chains. The first day also addressed the challenges the departments perceived to be present in trade policy, and then specifically trade in professional services.

The second day focused on restrictions on trade in services. These apply to cross-border supply over electronic networks, as well as establishment of foreign services firms in Jordan and movement of people to providing a service. In addition to the analysis of restrictions on service provision, attention was paid to negotiations on these issues in multilateral and regional contexts.

The third day focused on the plurilateral WTO negotiations on investment facilitation. Given that Jordan does not currently participate in these negotiations, the main objective of this day consisted in explaining in some detail the negotiating process, rationale and issues. To this end, the third day started with an overview of the negotiating process, the objectives of these negotiations and the (legal) consequences of their plurilateral character. Then, the main principles and key elements of a future Agreement on Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD Agreement), as discussed in the negotiations, were highlighted.

The first part of the fourth day was devoted to the intersection between a future IFD Agreement and the new WTO Reference Paper on Services Domestic Regulation (SDR Reference Paper) to which Jordan is not a signatory.

For further information please consult the attached Expert Report.