About SAWTEE

The South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE), a network of social activists and media persons in the South Asia region, was launched in December 1994 by a consortium of seven organisations in the South Asia region. It has been conducting various programs on international trade, regional cooperation and sustainable development and national issues independently as well as through its partner organisations based in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Since early 1999, when the organisation was formally registered in Kathmandu, its secretariat based in Kathmandu has also started working on the above-mentioned areas as well as performing its regular role of coordinating the activities of the member organisations.

SAWTEE is a part of the Consumer International's global watch on trade and economics. It serves on the Program Advisory Board of International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD), Geneva.

Objectives

Its objective is to enable citizens directly or through creating capacities in NGOs and media persons to "understand and cope with the processes of transition and equip them with information and the tools of advocacy to provide adequate safety nets for the protection of environment and consumers through enhanced international and regional cooperation in the areas of trade, economics and environment." 

Specific objectives of SAWTEE include: 

·         Sensitisation: Informing, educating and provoking actions from the readers of its publications on various issues related to liberalisation, globalisation, multilateral trading system, regional cooperation, environment and economics.

·         Advocacy: Influencing policy making at the national and regional level on the issues relating to trade, environment, economics, liberalisation, globalisation and multilateral trading system.

·         Policy research: To conduct research on specific issues identified by the network members and disseminate the findings to a large audience, including policy makers and international communities. 

·         Networking and Capacity building: To build capacity of NGOs, media and academia on issues relating to liberalisation and globalisation including the functioning of the multilateral trading system, environment and economics. 

Activities

In order to achieve its aforementioned objectives SAWTEE has been carrying out following activities.

Organization of Conference, Seminars, Training Workshops and Talk Programs

SAWTEE has been organising conferences, seminars, training workshops and talk programs with the objectives of influencing policy making at the national, regional and global level.

Research and Studies

The research and studies are being carried out on specific issues identified by the network members and the findings are disseminated to a large audience, including policy makers and international communities. So far a study titled "Documentation of Restrictive Business Practices in Nepal since 1992" has been completed by SAWTEE in the year 2000. Its partner organisations in India, Nepal and Pakistan have also conducted a number of research and studies.

Publications

SAWTEE has been bringing out the following publications on trade, economics and environment and regularly circulated to the concerned groups.

Newsletters

Twenty paged SAWTEE Newsletters are circulated to interested organisations and individuals throughout the world. The recipients of the Newsletters include such organisation like UNCTAD, WTO, OECD, UNEP, UNDP, WWF, IUCN etc. Contents of the Newsletter includes news and analyses of regional news of interest to the network partners; other important news on trade, economics and environment that affects the interest of countries represented by partner networks.

Briefing Papers

With the objective of informing, educating and provoking debate on issues of trade, sustainable development and equity, SAWTEE has been regularly producing briefing papers on related issues with special focus on South Asian realities.

Discussion Papers

Discussion papers are being published on the related issues of trade, economics, environment and sustainable development.

Monographs

Monographs are the compilation of articles on related issues of trade, economics and environment relevant to South Asian region by renowned authors.

Events

Major Events Organised

National Seminars/ Training Workshops/Conferences on:

  ·     Dissemination Workshop On “Farmers’ Rights: Options Before Mountain Communities”
       March 13, 2003, New Delhi

·     Interactive workshops on "Farmers' Rights & Mountain Communities-Where We Stand"
     23rd-24th March & 9th -10th April 2002, Dehradun & Nepal

·     Residential Workshops on Economic Liberalization, Farmers' Rights & Mountain Development Strategies,
      April 18-19 2002 & May4-2 2002 Kaski & Nepal.

·        SAWTEE's Position at the Third Ministerial Meeting of WTO, November 18, 1999, Kathmandu.

·        International trade, consumer protection and Nepal’s response, August 22-23, 1997, Pokhara, Nepal.

·        Need for Consumer Protection Strategies in the Market Oriented Economic System, June 27-28, 1997, 
      Chitwan, Nepal  

·        Economic Transition, Consumers and Environment, December 4-5, 1996, Butwal, Nepal

·        Role of Consumer Organisations and Media in the Context of Liberalisation, July 25-26,1996, Dharan, Nepal.

·        Nepalese Consumers in Changing Economic Scenario, April 4-5, 1996, Lalitpur, Nepal.

International/ Regional Training Workshops/ Seminars/ Conferences on:

·    South Asia Regional Co-operation in International Trade (SARCIT), July 14-15, 2000, Kathmandu, Nepal.

·    Capacity building Workshop on Food Security titled: Food Security in the Global Age, July 11-13, 2000, 
     Kathmandu, Nepal.

·    Panel Discussion on Vexed Issue of Linkages: Trade and Environment; Trade and Labour - II, February 14, 
     2000, Bangkok, Thailand

·    From Seattle to UNCTAD X: Issues of Concern, January 22-23, 2000, New Delhi, India.

·    Panel Discussion on Vexed Issue of Linkages: Trade and Environment; Trade and Labour - I, December 2, 
     1999, Seattle, USA

·    Anti Dumping and Dispute Settlement, December 1, 1999, Seattle, USA.

·    SAARC Trade Agenda for the Next Millennium: Civil Society's Perspective, November 16-17, 1999, 
     Kathmandu.

·    International Training Seminar on Multilateral Trade, Investment and Competition Policy - The Current Status 
     and Future Agenda, July 15-18, 1999, Jaipur, India.

·    International Trade Policy - III, November 27-29, 1998, Jaipur, India.

·    International Trade Policy - II, July 31-August 2, 1998, Nagarkot, Nepal.

·    International Trade Policy - I, April 5-6, 1998, Jaipur, India.

·    Competition Policy and Consumer Protection in the Context of Liberalisation, September 29-30, 1997, 
     Kathmandu, Nepal.

·    Trade Policy and Negotiations, July 24-25, 1997, Calcutta, India.

·    Implications of International Trade Agreements, August 23-25, 1996, Calcutta.

·    International and Regional Trade: Cost of Non-cooperation, December 11-13, 1995. Lalitpur, Nepal

·    India-Nepal Training Seminar entitled Liberalisation Yes, But With Safety Nets, 13-15 October 1995, Dhulikhel, 
     Nepal..

·    Globalisation, September 1995, Dhaka, Bangladesh

·    South Asia Consultation Meeting entitled Pains of Transition: Impact of Liberalisation on South Asian 
     Economies, Nagarkot, Nepal, December 8-9, 1994.

Participation in major International Events

·    Regional Meeting for the Asia-Pacific on New Dimension of Consumer Protection in the Era of Globalisation, 
     September 10-11, 2001 Goa, India. Organised by UNCTAD, Consumers International and Consumer Unity & 
     Trust Society.

·    Comparative Study of Competition Regimes in Select Developing Countries of the Commonwealth, September 
     7-8, 2001, Goa, India. Organised by CUTS Centre for International Trade, Economics and Environment.

·    NGO Hearing on Financing for Development, November 6-9, New York, USA. Organised by Financing for 
     Development Secretariat, United Nations. 

·    International Visitors Programme titled: Trade and Global Economy, October 12-November 3, 2000, USA. 
     Organised by the US Department of State. 

·    UNCTAD Consultation with NGOs, December 12-14, 1999, Geneva, Switzerland. Organised by United Nations 
     Non-government Liaison Service (UN-NGLS).

·    Tenth Session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD X), February 12-19, 
     2000, Bangkok, Thailand. 

·    Third Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), November 30-December 3, 1999, Seattle, 
     USA. 

·    Seminar on World Trade Organisation Millennium Round, October 18-22, 1999, Arusha, Tanzania. Organised 
     by  MS-Denmark.

·    WTO/NGO Symposium on International Trade and Competition Policy, September 13, 1999, Geneva, 
     Switzerland. Organised by the World Trade Organisation (WTO). 

·    Asia Pacific Regional Seminar on Codex, August 26-28, Bangkok, Thailand. Co-organised by Consumer 
     International – Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific  (CI-ROAP), the Thai Industrial Standard Institute and 
     the Office of the Consumer Protection Board, Thailand.

·    International Conference on Economic Sovereignty, organised by Focus on Global South, March 25-28, 1999, 
    Bangkok, Thailand.

·   WTO High level symposium on Trade and Environment, March 15-16, 1999, Geneva, Switzerland.

·   International Conference on Food Security: Agenda for the Millennium, organised by Consumer International - 
    Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, March 6-8, 1999, Penang, Malaysia.

·   International symposium on Trade and Sustainable Development: Regional Approaches, organised by ICTSD, 
    January 31- February 1, 1999, Geneva, Switzerland.

·   UNCTAD's Consultation with Trade Union and NGOs, organised by UNCTAD, July 12-13, 1998, Geneva, 
    Switzerland. 

·   Second Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation, May 1998, Geneva, Switzerland.

·   Policy Dialogue on Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) and Bio-diversity, organised by ICTSD, 
    March 19, 1998, Geneva, Switzerland.

·   WTO/NGO Symposium on Trade, Environment and Sustainable Development, March 17-18, 1998, Geneva, 
    Switzerland. Organised by The World Trade Organisation (WTO).

·   Policy Dialogue on Coming to Grips: Environment on International Trade Agenda, co- organised by International 
    Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD), The World Conservation Union (IUCN) and 
    International  Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), March 16, 1998, Gland, Switzerland. 

·   Symposium on Competition Policy, Economic Development and International Trade, co-organised by WTO, The 
     World Bank and UNCTAD, November 29, 1997, Geneva, Switzerland. 

·    International Seminar on International Trading System: Issues for Developing Countries, co-organised by CUTS 
     International Centre for Trade, Economics and Environment and International Centre for Trade and Sustainable 
     Development, November 27-28, 1997, Geneva, Switzerland.

·    International Symposium on Trade and Environment, May 22-23, 1997, Geneva, Switzerland, organised by 
     World Trade Organisation (WTO).

·    International Conference on Consumer Protection entitled "Consumers in the Global Age", 21-24 January 1997, 
     New Delhi, India. 

·    Seminar on Legal Aspects of Trade Liberalisation and Regional Economic Integration held in Rome from 
     November 18 to 29, 1996.

·    Ninth Session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD IX) held at Midrand, 
     South Africa between April 27 and May 11, 1996.

·    International Conference on Competition Policy in the Context of Liberalisation, January 20- 21, 1995, New 
     Delhi, India.

SAWTEE publications

SAWTEE has been publishing different publications independently or in connection with its network members.

Newsletters

It has been publishing 4 issues of newsletters per year. So far 18 issues of SAWTEE newsletters have been published. Target audience includes trade negotiators, policy makers, civil society organisations, business chambers, academia and media. The newsletter includes news analysis and articles in the areas of trade, economics, regional cooperation, sustainable development and consumer protection.

Discussion Papers

So far SAWTEE has published three discussion papers under following headings:

§         Anti-competitive Practices in Nepal.

§         Agricultural Liberalisation and its Impact on South Asia.

§         Domestically Prohibited Goods, Trade in Toxic Waste and Technology Transfer: Issues and Developments.

Briefing Papers

Eight briefing papers has been published by SAWTEE under following headings:

§         Integrating the Least-Developed Countries into the Multilateral Trading System: Need for a Bond between Promise and Performance.

§         Trade, Environment and Sustainable Development in South Asia.

§         Liberalisation and Regulatory Reforms in South Asia.

§         Competition Policy in Small Economics.

§         Services Trade Liberalisation in South Asia.

§         Labor Standards & WTO: A New Form of Protectionism.

§         Genetically Modified Organisms: Biosafety and Risk Assessment.

§         Agricultural Liberalisation: Boon or Bane?

Monographs

So far two monographs has been published under following headings:

§         Globalisation: South Asian Perspective

§         Integrating LDCs into the Multilateral Trading System: Rhetoric Galore

NETWORK MEMBERS

SAWTEE has developed regional linkage with the following NGOs in different countries.

Bangladesh

BELA is a network of environmental lawyers of Bangladesh. Its main activity is information dissemination on environmental issues. It has also undertaken a programme of capacity building at the local level. BELA is an active participant in SAWTEE programmes.

2.  Associates for Development Initiatives (ADI),
House 49, Road 12A, Dhanmondi R/A,
Dhaka 1209, Bangladesh
Ph: 880-2-811 4373
Fax: 880-2-956 6333/811 7313
Email: adi@ncll.com

ADI is an independent organisation working on developmental issues. Its present activity is on the feasibility of micro credit system in rural Bangladesh. It has also undertaken research assignment on local level environmental issues.

India 

CUTS was established in 1983 as a consumer protection organisation in India, its work programme on trade and sustainable development was launched in 1991. Since then it has traversed a long way in fulfilling its mission of: “Pursuing economic equity and social justice within and across borders by persuading governments and empowering people.” CUTS serves on the board of Geneva based International Centre for Trade and sustainable Development is globally recognised as an organisation working on international trade policy issues.

2.  Federation of Consumer Organisations of Tamil Nadu (FEDCOT),
9, Daniel Thomas Nagar,
Vallam Road, Thanjavur, 613 007
Tamil Nadu, India
Ph: 91-04362-30186, 37130
Email: fedcot@md3.vsnl.net.in

FEDCOT is a network of consumer organisations in Tamil Nadu. Its major activities are capacity building and advocacy of public utility services and environmental problems affecting consumers at large. FEDCOT has set an example in India on how grassroots activists can be created on consumer protection issues. Currently they are also actively associated with CUTS in training a few of their volunteers on international trade policy issues. 

3.  Development Research and Action Group (DRAG), New Delhi

The Development Research and Action Group (DRAG) has been focusing on development, environment and heritage issues

4. Citizen, Consumer and Civic Action Group (CAG), Chennai

CAG is a public interest group dealing with issues of public health, safety, performance of public utilities, consumer and environmental protection.

Nepal

1.  Forum for Protection of Public Interest (ProPublic),
P.O. Box: 14307,
Gautambuddha Marg, Anamnagar
Kathmandu, Nepal 
Ph: 977-1-240746
Fx: 977-1-268022
E-mail: propublic@wlink.com.np; fppic@fppipc.wlink.com.np

Pro Public started off as a public interest environmental and consumer protection organisation. Later on it got involved with the issues of international trade policy. It is conducting local level capacity building workshops on WTO (World Trade Organisation) issues in Nepal. It also has an advocacy agenda on these issues. At present its focus areas of work include: environmental conservation; consumer protection, trade and economics; gender and governance. 

2.  Society for Legal and Environmental Analysis and Development Research (LEADERS), Kathmandu

LEADERS, Nepal (earlier LEADERS Inc.) was founded in 1987. Its activities include policy research as well as grassroots advocacy on legal, environmental and development issues.

Pakistan

SDPI is a major think tank in Pakistan on economic and sustainability issues. Its main activities are information dissemination, research and capacity building on development issues. It has also carried out considerable amount of research on trade policy issues.

2.  Journalists for Democracy and Human Rights (JDHR), Islamabad

Journalists for Democracy and Human Rights (JDHR) is a country wide public interest media organisation/think tank which sensitises media persons/writers on democratic norms, human rights and media ethics.

Sri Lanka

1.  Law and Society Trust (L&ST),

LST is committed to improving public awareness on human rights issues as well as on equal access to justice and the legal system. It also has a law and the economy programme, which covers environmental issues as well. LST is also developing its strengths in the area of international trade law and therefore actively involved with SAWTEE in events related to international trade policy/law.

Contact SAWTEE

Mr. Ratnakar Adhikari

Executive Director

SAWTEE

South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment

PO Box: 19366, 254 Lamtangeen Marg, Baluwatar, Kathmandu, Nepal

Tel: +977-1-4415824/4444438, Fax: + 977-1-4430608

Email: hqsawtee@wlink.com.np , sawtee@sawtee.org

Web: www.sawtee.org

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