Asia region benefits from win-win negotiation workshop

Public servants from Commonwealth Asian countries met in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 11 to 22 June 2007 for a workshop on enhancing their negotiation skills.

The aim of the workshop was to expose participants to the basic concepts, processes and principles of negotiation as well as different types of negotiating skills needed for their work.

These ranged from bilateral negotiation, trade negotiation and private sector negotiation through to complex, multi-pronged negotiations and crisis negotiation.

The workshop also covered international issues such as reforming the United Nations and biodiversity.

Dr Aly Shameem, Deputy Secretary-General of the People’s Majlis Secretariat of the Maldives Parliament, said: “The workshop helped us to develop winning strategies, policies and tactics for negotiation which also provided us with ideas and innovative thinking to improve our negotiating capabilities.”

The Director of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Governance and Institutional Development Division (GIDD), Jacqueline Wilson, said: “The programme not only strengthened the capacities of the public sector but also helped senior officers from the Asia region to enhance their knowledge and skills in preparing strategy for a win-win negotiation. In the longer term, this will help in dealings with donor agencies and the private sector as well as inter-ministerial negotiations.”

“Overall, it has been a rewarding and educating workshop with an A-grade standing,” said Mohammed Jasimuddin, Commonwealth Secretariat Adviser at GIDD and designer of the workshop.

The workshop was co-hosted by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN), Malaysia.

Eighteen senior officers from Asia attended the workshop.

Key Links:

• Governance

Related News:

• National Institute of Public Administration, (INTAN) Malaysia