Nepal Infrastructure 
KATHMANDU: The WTO Chairs Programme (WCP) formally launched a new chair institution— Kathmandu University School of Management (KUSOM) on Monday. The institution is led by WCP- Nepal, Co-Chair Prof. Dr Achyut Wagle, Registrar of Kathmandu University.
“With the goal of facilitating WTO members’ full participation in the multilateral trading system, the WCP provides financial and technical assistance to academic institutions in developing nations so they can increase their knowledge of international trade law and economics,” says a press release issued by the KUSOM.
The Chief Secretary of the Government of Nepal, Shankar Das Bairagi, who is the chief guest of the programme said the Chairs Programme was a unique initiative by the World Trade Organization aimed at mainstreaming issues and dynamism of trade and international trade laws into the academic programs, activities, and research in developing countries.
On the occasion, a message from the Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba was read out. prime “WCP-Nepal programme has added an important brick on ameliorating mainly supply-side constraints faced by Nepal in our international trade by making our trade and investment policy formulation more evidenced-based and realistic as well as compatible to the international trading system,” Deuba said in the message.
Speaking at the event WTO Deputy Director-General Xiangchen Zhang opined that the Chairs Network will result in cross-fertilization of ideas, fostering greater knowledge generation, sharing, and exchanges at home, in the region, and across regions, for maximum impact at the multilateral forum.”
WCP-Nepal, Co-chair and Registrar of Kathmandu University Prof Dr. Achyut Wagle said “KU is committed to working to deliver the best in all three key pillars of activities envisaged by WCP for the next three years which include– Curriculum Development and Teaching, Research and Capacity Building and Outreach.”
Vice Chancellor Kathmandu University Prof. Dr. Bhola Thapa expressed hope that KU’s partnership with WTO through this Chairs Programme significantly helps to contribute towards achieving the objective of enhancing academic excellence, research and outreach.
Australian ambassador to Nepal her Excellency Felicity Volk expressed hope that such forums find new ways to reinvigorate and strengthen the multilateral system, as well as national and global trade policy making.
