. /.RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONIP/C/W/243/Add.3
11 April 2001
(01-1846)
Council for Trade-Related Aspects
of Intellectual Property RightsOriginal:  English
TECHNOLOGY CAPACITY BUILDING:  INFORMATION FROM OTHER
INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
UNCTAD
Addendum
The present document reproduces the information on technology capacity building and
technical cooperation activities which has been received from UNCTAD, by means of a
communication dated 30 March 2001.
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The purpose of this document is to provide additional information on secretariat's activities
related to the capacity building activities and th e TRIPS Agreement.  It provides briefly the
paragraphs of the UNCTAD Plan of Action, Tenth session, Bangkok, 12-19 February 2000. It then
present summary information regarding relevant tec hnical cooperation activities related to the TRIPS
Agreement.
At the tenth session of UNCTAD) ( TD/386), in its stocktaking of major international
initiatives, the Conference noted that the "importance of transfer of technology to developing
countries has been recognized in various forums" and stated that technological development is
"important for the integration and participation of developing countries in the international trading
system.  Such development can be facilitated by domestic and international actions, including human
resource development, establishment and strengthening of appropriate policy and legal frameworksand the competitive environment, encouraging the establishment of more sophisticated industries,
establishment of science and technology institutes and infrastructure, encouragement of business
support services, and home country measures that encourage the transfer of technology, as well as
environmentally sound technologies" (Plan of Action, paragraphs 86 and 89).  Accordingly,
UNCTAD was requested to continue to address issu es of international investment, technology and
enterprise development and "aim at improving the understanding of developing countries and
economies in transition with respect to policy choice s in theses areas; strengthening these countries'
national abilities to formulate and implement policies, measures and action programmes in these
areas; and promoting understanding of emerging issues, including the role of international
arrangements, with a view to strengthening their ability to participate in discussions and negotiations."(paragraph 114).
The Commission on Investment, Technology and Rela ted Financial Issues, at its fifth session,
12 -16 February 2001, in its agreed recommendations with regard to international policy issues: home
country measures (HCMs), addressed the flowing recommendations to the international community:
"There should be further examinations of what measures Governments have taken to implement theIP/C/W/243/Add.3
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provisions of international agreements on transfer of technology, bearing in mind the importance of
the effective implementation of international commitments relating to technology and its transfer,
including the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (the TRIPS
Agreement), by host and home countries.  International support measures can be useful in facilitating
FDI flows to developing countries, including th rough the improvement of the enabling environment".
The Commission also recommended that, in line with the mandate from UNCTAD X, UNCTAD
should "Analyse all aspects of existing internationa l agreements relevant to transfer of technology"
and "Design technical cooperation activities to assist countries in making more effective use of
available HCNIs." (T D/B/COM.2/L. 13).
Technical cooperation activities which are aimed at enhancing the capacity of developing
countries to attract and benefit from foreign direct investment and technology; formulate andimplement policies and strategies; improve understanding of issues and policy choices in international
investment and technology transfer; and participate in discussions and negotiations on related issues
cover aspects of the TRIPS Agreement.  Such activities include advisory services. seminars,
workshops and training.
Advice and observations, upon request, in the field of transfer of technology and investment
have geared towards understanding of issues in the TRIPS Agreement and better elucidating their
development dimension.
Seminars and regional symposia on investment and technology as well as on positive agenda
have often included a component on the TRIPS Agreement related issues.
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