GOVPH

21 February 2020 - WTO Meeting of Chairpersons for 2019-2020

(L-R): Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration - H.E. Mr. Dagfinn SØRLI (Norway); Committee on Balance-of-Payments Restrictions – H.E. Miss Cheryl K. SPENCER (Jamaica); Committee on Trade and Development – H.E. Mr. Chad BLACKMAN (Barbados); Committee on Trade Facilitation – H.E. Mohammad Qurban HAQJO (Afghanistan); Dispute Settlement Body – H.E. Dr. David WALKER (New Zealand); General Council – H.E. Ms. Sunanta KANGVALKULKIJ (Thailand); Trade Policy Review Body – H.E. Mr. Manuel A.J. TEEHANKEE (Philippines); Council for Trade in Goods – H.E. Mr. José Luís CANCELA GÓMEZ (Uruguay); Committee on Trade and Environment – Mr. Jean-Marie PAUGAM (France); Committee on Agriculture – Ms. Christiane Daleiden Distefano (Luxembourg); Council for TRIPS – H.E. Mr. Lundeg PUREVSUREN (Mongolia); Working Group on Trade and Transfer of Technology – H.E. Dr. Rashidi SAID (Malaysia)

RAUL SUNICO PERFORMS FOR AN INTIMATE GROUP OF MUSIC LOVERS AT THE WTO

(Counterclockwise from top-left: Amb. Teehankee delivering his welcome remarks; WTO DDG Brauner delivering his brief remarks; Audience listening intently to Dr. Sunico’s introduction; Dr. Sunico performing the mini-concert)

14 JUNE 2019, GENEVA – Internationally-acclaimed Filipino artist, Dr. Raul Sunico, performed a mini-concert for an intimate group of music lovers in one of the historic rooms of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Headquarters.

In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Manuel A.J. Teehankee, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the WTO, thanked the Philippine National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) for their cooperation in bringing this event to fruition. WTO Deputy Director-General Karl Brauner welcomed Dr. Sunico to the WTO and praised the musical prowess of Filipinos.

Before his performance, Dr. Sunico introduced his six-piece repertoire, which included pieces by Chopin, Schubert, Ravel, Liszt and Filipino composer, Francisco Buencamino. Dr. Sunico’s performance ended with a standing ovation, after which he conversed with the audience in a short question-and-answer session.

The said mini-concert was attended by several Permanent Representatives to the WTO, WTO Appellate Body Members, WTO Secretariat Members and other prominent music lovers based in Geneva. END.

PHILIPPINES SUBMITS REQUEST FOR OBSERVERSHIP STATUS UNDER THE WTO GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT

06 May 2019, GENEVA – Ambassador Manuel A. J. Teehankee, Philippine Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization, formally delivered to WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo the request of the Philippine government to become an observer in the Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) under the World Trade Organization (WTO). 

The Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) is the main WTO agreement that provides the framework for the conduct of international trade in government procurement among 47 WTO Members that signed the GPA. 

As a non-party to the GPA, the Philippines has applied for observership status in the WTO GPA Committee. If approved, the Philippines will be able to participate in the discussions in the Committee, gain access to relevant information, and become acquainted with the operation and administration of the Agreement, without undertaking any obligations. 

Through its participation as observer in the GPA, the Philippines looks to gain a better understanding of the GPA and further promote the efficient and effective management of public resources and good governance in national procurement systems.