Correspondents of national print and electronic media and reporters of local dailies attended the session that discussed multilateral trading system, trade policy, WTO and its functions, principles, agreements and implications for Bangladesh.

Special focus was given to sensitise the journalists about international trade issues.

Tanim Ahmed, assistant editor of the New Age, and Shawkat Hossain Masum, business editor of the Prothom Alo, attended the session as resource persons. Hasibur Rahman, executive director of the Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI), was also present.

MRDI organised the session under a project titled 'Open Flow of Info on Trade & Economy (Ofite)' supported by Delegation of the European Commission. The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) is offering technical assistance to this project.

The aims of this project are to develop a critical mass of journalists well-versed in WTO and EC rules and issues, post-MFA market access scenario, EU trade-and investment-related legislation and preferential trade facilities like the GSP; trade barriers, FDI, TRIPS, CSR, labour and health standards (SPS), and other compliances.

MRDI organised similar sessions in Chittagong, Sylhet, Barisal, Khulna and Dhaka. Besides, it also organised 2-week residential foundation and advanced training for economic journalists of national dailies and TV channels.