‘The ideas and insights I picked up still assist me up to this day.’
Wilton Park is a unique place where different people from all over the world come and freely discuss global issues of the day and genuinely express themselves. It is indeed a multilateral forum akin to the United Nations General Assembly.
I participated in two important conferences on the International Trade Centre and Trade Facilitation in preparation for the World Trade Organization’s Bali Conference. The ideas and insights I picked up from fellow participants still assist me up to this day in my university lectures in International Relations.
It was very empowering to meet with senior trade officials from the UK and from many other countries. I learnt that Trade facilitation is an essential dimension in economic development in today’s globalised world, especially from a developing country perspective.
I was very impressed to see a team of young university students at the meeting. When I asked them what they were doing they told me that they had come to assist their Senior Minister with trade information they had gathered. I always tell my colleagues that we need to involve our youngsters at an early stage in development issues.
I was also impressed by the way seating arrangements was organised to avoid the same people seating at the same places. One had to pick a number and could not be exchanged. This meant making friends from different countries.
As a result of my Wilton Park participation, the experience will always be everlasting and the most valued group photos will always be part of my office furniture!
