New Pacific Chief Trade Adviser Signs

Friday 10 February 2012

Dr Edwini Kessie, a Geneva-based international trade law expert has signed to be the new Chief Trade Adviser (CTA) for the Pacific Island Countries and the head of the Port Vila-based Office of the Chief Trade Adviser (OCTA). The decision to appoint Dr Kessie was made at the Special Forum Island Country Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Brussels in December last year following recommendations from the Selection Panel.

Dr Kessie holds a Doctorate Degree in law from the University of Technology, Sydney, Australia, Master’s Degrees from the University of Toronto, Canada and the Free University of Brussels, Belgium and a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from the University of Ghana. He is also admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Courts of England and Wales and New South Wales, Australia and as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana.

With 17 years of experience at the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr Kessie has been assisting developing countries, including Pacific Island Countries, to participate in, and derive real benefits from, global trade. Dr Kessie most recently serves as the Regional Coordinator for Africa at the WTO Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation, providing strategic leadership in policy formulation, coordination and implementation to assist African countries integrate into the multilateral trading system. He had previously worked at the Council and Trade Negotiations Committee, the Technical Cooperation and the Development Division of the WTO. He is also a part-time lecturer in international trade law at the World Trade Institute in Berne and University of Lausanne, both in Switzerland and also the Universities of Pretoria and Western Cape, South Africa.

The Pacific Island Countries welcomed the news as they prepare for the next PACER Plus meeting scheduled for late March.

“As Chair of the OCTA Governing Board, I am pleased to welcome Dr Edwini Kessie on board. Dr Kessie will lead his Team in facing the challenging but exciting tasks ahead. With his in-depth experience and knowledge of complex multilateral trade negotiations and rules, I am confident that he will successfully provide leadership to the OCTA in serving its members and guiding the region through the PACER Plus negotiations,” said Honourable Peter Shanel Agovaka, Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade for Solomon Islands and Forum Island Country Lead Spokesperson for PACER Plus.

Dr Kessie’s appointment completes the recruitment process for this important position. Following the resignation of Dr Chris Noonan in September 2011, the OCTA has been operating under interim arrangements.

"I am delighted by my appointment as Chief Trade Adviser of the OCTA and I look forward to working closely with the Pacific Island Countries so as to come up with a cutting edge agreement which would be a catalyst for their full integration into the multilateral trading system and enable them to achieve sustainable growth and development and increased living standards for their people,"- Dr Edwini Kessie, incoming Chief Trade Adviser of the OCTA.

Dr Kessie will participate in the next PACER Plus meeting in March 2012.

ENDS

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