The programme was held in order to discuss the priority sectors that could be developed utilising assistance through the Aid for Trade package. Senior authorities from Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MOICS), Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC), Department of Drugs Administration (DDA) and Ministry of Education and Sports (MOES) were discussant in the meeting. 

Speaking at the occasion, Chief Guest of the programme, Secretary of MOICS, Mr Bharat Bahadur Thapa highlighted the need to develop human resource, technology and also build capacity in many sectors. He however cautioned that Aid for trade is not likely to cover all the sectors, there is a need to prioritise them based on their importance and core competency.            

Joint Secretary at MOICS, Mr Prachanda Man Shrestha said that for Aid for Trade to be effective, it needs to take into consideration the adjustment cost that the developing countries have to incur in the process of liberalisation, be demand driven and be given without any conditionalities.

Joint Secretary at MOAC, Mr Krishna Bahadur Shrestha said that given the importance of agricultural sector in Nepalese economy Aid For Trade should be priotised for this sector. He said that both institutional development eg., strengthening quarantine checkpost, laboratories and human resource development are important to increase our competitive ability in this sector.  

Director of DDA, Mr Bhupendra Bahadur Thapa said that Aid for Trade package  could be utilised to increase the capacity of the pharmaceutical companies to export medicines.

Joint Secretary at the MOES, Mr Lawa Prasad Tripathy said that support through Aid for Trade can be utilised to develop health education and skill enhancement of people going to work outside Nepal.

Chairperson of the programme and Executive Director of SAWTEE, Mr Navin Dahal said that we need to be very careful in identifying the sectors for utilising Aid for Trade otherwise it will not be able to help in poverty eradication through trade.   
 
More than 50 participants from the media, government, private sector, research  and academic institutions were present in the programme.