Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) are going to train economic journalists of the country on WTO issues and their implications for Bangladesh. Initiatives have been taken for the training under a project titled 'Open Flow of Info on Trade & Economy' supported by the Delegation of European Commission.

CPD will provide technical support to MRDI and develop modules and materials for training and advocacy sessions. Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, executive director of the CPD, will act as the mentor of the project and Dr Mustafizur Rahman as the team leader of module development.

This project intends to develop a group of efficient economic journalists who would understand international trading rules and have clear ideas on rules of trade with the EU, both in the context of bilateral and multilateral trade regime.

Under the project, MRDI will organise two residential training courses, one Foundation Training in July and another Advanced Training in September both in Dhaka and each for duration of two weeks. In addition, they will arrange advocacy sessions at divisional headquarters.

CPD experts, eminent economists, and trade, business and media experts will be in the pool of trainers and resource persons. Hans-peter Werner, counselor, Development Division, World Trade Organisation (WTO), Geneva, and Elke Pickartz, Trainer, the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ), Germany, will also train in the Advanced Training.