The TRADE research entity was privileged to host a WTO Workshop on Global Value Chains (GVCs) and Trade in Value Added (TiVA) for researchers, policymakers and PhD students from 30 May to 1 June 2017, as part for the WTO Chairs Programme outreach activities. The two international presenters, who spoke on the first two days of the workshop, were Mr Christophe Degain, Senior Statistician and Dr Victor Kummritz, Research Economist, from the Economic Research and Statistics Division of the WTO in Geneva, Switzerland.

The first day of the workshop was aimed at explaining the context of global trade, and the development of global and regional value chains in recent years. Specific attention was given to the different measurements of trade in value added and value chains. The presenters also gave an in-depth explanation of the different data sources, and gave very informative live demos of the OECD-WTO TiVA database and its uses. 

The second day of the workshop focused more on the theory and economic principles that underpin GVCs. The discussions introduced a number of policy perspectives, specifically how value chains can be incorporated into trade and investment policies. Some time was devoted to South Africa's TiVA country profile and the role of services in GVCs, and the WTO's online I-TIP Services tool was explained. 

On the third day of the workshop, there was a guest lecture by Ms Elizabeth van Renen, Chief Director: Trade Policy and Research  at the Department of Trade and Industry in South Africa. She focused on the role of GVCs and the important role they can play (particularly in South Africa) in regional economic integration efforts in the SADC region. Her presentation provided valuable insights into the current developments in the region and the potential for further development, notwithstanding the prevalence of various challenges and barriers to progress. Mr Martin Cameron, Managing Director of Trade Advisory, then rounded off the workshop proceedings with a presentation on the TRADE-DSM™ methodology and how it is being used by government and private organisations to identify realistic export opportunities, thereby streamlining their export development activities.