Memorandum of Understanding Signed Between SAWTEE and CWS

After nearly five years of mutually beneficial cooperation on trade, economic development and environmental issues, SAWTEE and Centre for WTO Studies (CWS) of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Kathmandu on 20 December 2010. The document was signed by Dr. Posh Raj Pandey, Executive Chairman of SAWTEE and Prof. Rajan Sudesh Ratna, Joint Secretary and Director General, Foreign Trade (Policy), Department of Commerce, Government of India, and former Head, CWS.
SAWTEE and CWS have agreed to collaborate to facilitate academic cooperation initiatives in the areas of joint research; policy dialogue, and publications for national, regional and international forums; and capacity building. The two institutions have agreed to the following modalities for fostering mutual cooperation:  

  1. undertaking collaborative research projects;
  2. conducting training workshops/preparing modules;
  3. organizing joint conferences/seminars for informed debate;
  4. exchange of research faculty members;
  5. knowledge dissemination through joint publications;
  6. seeking outside funding sources for joint research activities; and
  7. exchanging publications brought by the two institutions.

Apart from the above, CWS and SAWTEE shall undertake, by mutual agreement, other forms of cooperation that they consider as conducive to promoting mutual exchange and cooperation.
The MoU would be jointly reviewed and evaluated after three years from the date it becomes effective.  Any amendment or modification of the MoU shall only be made on the basis of a mutually agreed written statement signed by both institutions. The MoU, which became effective on the date of signing by both the institutions, will last for a period of five years and can be renewed by mutual consent.