Reflection: What Did I Do During My Internship At The International Trade Center (ITC)?

I respect professionalism and I strive for excellence. Stylistically, my professional maxim is “wear your destiny”. Thus, in Geneva I resolved to always look and act like consistent my goal of being an international nation-building diplomat.

The internship:

I spent the Summer 2023 as an International Trade Intern at the International Trade Center (ITC) in Geneva, Switzerland. The ITC is a United Nations agency formed with a joint mandate from two UN agencies: WTO and UNCTAD. At the ITC, I worked for the Division of Market Development (DMD), which has two main parts: 1) Formation of National Export Strategy; & 2) Implementation Management (IM). I worked with the latter team.

The purpose of Implementation Management (IM) is to equip countries with tools to implement the National Export Strategy developed by the ITC in consultation with the country. To achieve this, the ITC recommends establishing trade advisory committees that brings private and public sector representatives together to advise the government on trade. The export advisory committees are sometimes called “National Export Councils” (NEC). Collectively, the import and export advisory committees is a country’s “trade governance system”.

The ITC created a Model Legal Framework years ago, but it became outdated, so I was hired as an intern to renew it. To achieve this, I reviewed the legislative acts establishing trade governing systems in the following six (6) countries: the United States, Turkey, Nigeria, Singapore, Ivory Coast, and Sri Lanka. I examined:

1. US trade governance system including the Trade Act of 1974 and 2022 that established and expanded the trade advisory committees.
2. Nigerian Export Promotion Council Act No. 73 of 1988
3. Turkish Exporters Assembly established in 1993 that operates within the Law No. 5910
4. the Singapore Economic Development board Act of 1961
5. Ivory Coast National Export Decree No. 2014472 of 2014
6. Sri Lanka Export Development Act No. 40 of 1979

My comparative analysis, findings, and recommendations of the trade governing systems were organized in the final product of a research paper, presentation, a full draft of a new model legal framework (created by my findings and legal creativity), and originally designed flowcharts showing the relationship of the various trade governance elements. Also, I created a checklist for ITC consultants to assess the strength of government oversight bodies, and a Questions & Answers brochure about National Export Councils.

Thus, my internship resulted in an updated Model Legal Framework for the ITC! I am grateful for the tutelage I received from my supervisors. These knowledgeable gentlemen were helpful to my development. Thanks to Case Western Reserve University School of Law and the ITC for the great opportunity. I am proud of accomplishing the work I was hired to do, of reciprocating value, and knowing that my work will endure.

Onward & Upward!

Dr. Ikenna Ezealah