In October, the Clingendael Institute had the pleasure of welcoming a delegation of 16 World Trade Organization (WTO) trainees from the Netherlands Trainee Programme. This one week-training programme was designed to provide the trainees with valuable insights into trends in international trade and to sharpen their policy making skills. 

Throughout the training, participants enhanced their knowledge on various WTO-related matters, including digital trade, trade agreements, and foreign direct investments. Furthermore, participants strengthened their professional skills through workshops on presentation skills and the art of international negotiations. The programme also included a series of insightful visits to various organisations, including an international development agency, a regional development agency, and a private sector interest group. During these visits, participants explored the role of the Dutch private sector in government policy planning. 

The trainees also visited the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where the Ministry shared their invaluable expertise on foreign trade policies. The day concluded with a reception, during which the participants had the opportunity to get to know some of the policy officers at the Ministry.  

Another highlight was a captivating visit to Rotterdam. Here, participants had the unique opportunity to gain insights into the operations of the Port of Rotterdam while enjoying dinner onboard a ship as it navigated through the harbour.

Clingendael Academy has been collaborating with the WTO in organising this programme for their trainees since 2012. We thank the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs for supporting this programme.