(d) encourage participation in purpose-built mobile or web-based platforms, for business entrepreneurs and counselors to share information and best practices to help SMEs link with international suppliers, buyers, and other potential business partners.
Article 13.3. Information Sharing
1. Each Party shall establish or maintain its own free, publicly accessible website containing information regarding this Agreement, including:
(a) the text of this Agreement; a summary of this Agreement; and information designed for SMEs that contains:
(i) a description of the provisions in this Agreement that the Party considers to be relevant to SMEs; and
(ii) any additional information that would be useful for SMEs interested in benefitting from the opportunities provided by this Agreement.
2. Each Party shall include in its website links or information through automated electronic transfer to:
(a) the equivalent websites of the other Party; and
(b) the websites of its own government agencies and other appropriate entities that provide information the Party considers useful to any person interested in trading, investing, or doing business in that Party's territory.
3. Subject to each Party's laws and regulations, the information described in paragraph 2(b) may include:
(a) customs regulations, procedures, or enquiry points;
(b) regulations or procedures concerning intellectual property;
(c) technical regulations, standards, conformity assessment procedures, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures relating to importation and exportation;
(d) foreign investment regulations;
(e) business registration;
(f) trade promotion programs;
(g) competitiveness programs;
(h) SME investment and financing programs;
(i) taxation, accounting;
(j) government procurement opportunities; and
(k) other information which the Party considers to be useful for SMEs.
4. Each Party shall regularly review the information and links on the website referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 to ensure the information and links are up-to-date and accurate.
5. When possible, each Party shall endeavor to make the information referred to in this Article available in English.
Article 13.4. Subcommittee on SME Issues
1. A Subcommittee on SME Issues (hereinafter referred to as the "Subcommittee") is hereby established, consisting of representatives of each Party. The Subcommittee shall meet, in person or by any other technological means as determined by the Parties, at such times as agreed by the Parties and when they deem it appropriate, to consider matters arising under this Chapter.
2. The Subcommittee may consider any matter arising under this Chapter. The functions of the Subcommittee shall include:
(a) identify ways to assist SMEs in the Parties' territories to take advantage of the commercial opportunities resulting from this Agreement and to strengthen SME competitiveness;
(b) identify and recommend ways for further cooperation between the Parties to develop and enhance partnerships between SMEs of the Parties;
(c) exchange and discuss each Party's experiences and best practices in supporting and assisting SME exporters with respect to, among other things, training programs, trade education, trade finance, trade missions, trade facilitation, digital trade, identifying commercial partners in the territories of the Parties, and establishing good business credentials;
(d) promote seminars, workshops, webinars, mentorship sessions, or other activities to inform SMEs of the benefits available to them under this Agreement;
(e) explore opportunities for capacity building to facilitate each Party's work in developing and enhancing SME export counseling, assistance, and training programs;
(f) recommend additional information that a Party may include on the website teferred to in Article 13.3;
(g) review and coordinate its work program with the work of other subcommittees, working groups, and other subsidiary bodies established under this Agreement, as well as of other relevant international bodies, to avoid duplication of work programs and to identify appropriate opportunities for cooperation to improve the ability of SMEs to engage in trade and investment opportunities resulting from this Agreement;
(h) collaborate with and encourage subcommittees, working groups and other subsidiary bodies established under this Agreement to consider SME-related commitments and activities into their work;
(i) review the implementation and operation of this Chapter and SME-related provisions within this Agreement and report findings and make recommendations to the Joint Committee that can be included in future work and SME assistance programs as appropriate;
(j) facilitate the development of programs to assist SMEs to participate and integrate effectively into the Parties' regional and global supply chains;
(k) promote the participation of SMEs in digital trade in order to take advantage of the opportunities resulting from this Agreement and rapidly access new markets;
(l) facilitate the exchange of information on entrepreneurship education and awareness programs for youth and women to promote the entrepreneurial environment in the territories of the Parties;
(m) submit on an annual basis, unless the Parties decide otherwise, a report of its activities and make appropriate recommendations to the Joint Committee; and
(n) consider any other matter pertaining to SMEs as the Subcommittee may decide, including issues raised by SMEs regarding their ability to benefit from this Agreement.
3. The Subcommittee may seek to collaborate with appropriate experts and international donor organizations in carrying out its programs and activities.
4. The Joint Committee shall establish the rules of working procedures of the Subcommittee.
Article 13.5. Non-Application of Dispute Settlement
No Party shall have recourse to dispute settlement under Chapter 15 (Dispute Settlement) for any matter arising under this Chapter.
Chapter 14. ECONOMIC COOPERATION
Article 14.1. Objectives
1. The Parties shall promote cooperation under this Agreement for their mutual benefit in order to facilitate the implementation of the overall objectives of this Agreement, in particular to enhance liberalization of trade and foster investment opportunities arising from this Agreement.
2. All forms of cooperation under this Chapter, with particular attention to economic, technical and commercial cooperation, shall be built upon a common understanding between the Parties to support the implementation of this Agreement, with the objective of maximising its benefits, supporting pathways to trade and investment facilitation, and further improving market access and openness to contribute to the sustainable inclusive economic growth and prosperity of the Parties.
3. Cooperation between the Parties under this Chapter will supplement the cooperation and cooperative activities between the Parties set out in other Chapters of this Agreement.
Article 14.2. Scope and Areas of Cooperation
1. Economic cooperation under this Chapter shall support the effectiveness and efficiency of the implementation and utilisation of this Agreement through activities that relate to trade and investment.
2. Economic cooperation under this Chapter shall initially focus on, but shall not be limited to, the following areas:
(a) manufacturing industries;
(b) pharmaceutical and healthcare;
(c) agriculture and fisheries;
(d) trade and investment promotion;
(e) tourism;
(f) education;
(g) information and communication technology including e-commerce and digital trade;
(h) trade in services;
(i) renewable energies; and
(j) sustainable development and trade.
3. The Joint Committee may agree on a Work Programme on Economic Cooperation Activities and may modify the above list, including by adding other areas for economic cooperation.
Article 14.3. Work Programme on Economic Cooperation Activities
1. The Subcommittee on Economic Cooperation shall recommend to the Joint Committee to adopt the Work Program on Economic Cooperation Activities (hereinafter referred to as the "Work Programme") based on proposals submitted by the Parties.
2. Each activity in the Work Programme developed under this Chapter shall:
(a) be in accordance with the legislation and policy of each Party;
(b) be guided by the objectives agreed in Article 14.1;
(c) be related to trade or investment and support the implementation of this Agreement;
(d) involve both Parties;
(e) address the mutual priorities of the Parties; and
(f) avoid duplicating existing economic cooperation activities.
Article 14.4. Resources
1. Resources for economic cooperation under this Chapter shall be provided in a manner as agreed by the Parties and in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Parties.
2. The Parties, on the basis of mutual benefit, may consider cooperation with, and contributions from, external parties to support the implementation of the Work Programme.
Article 14.5. Methods and Means of Cooperation
The Parties will endeavour to encourage cooperation under this Chapter, through the following:
(a) joint organization of conferences, seminars, workshops, meetings, training sessions and outreach and education programs;
(b) exchange of delegations, professionals, technicians and specialists from the academic sector, institutions dedicated to research, private sector and governmental agencies, including study visits and internship programs for professional training;
(c) dialogue and exchange of experiences between the Parties' private sectors and agencies involved in trade promotion;
(d) initiation of the knowledge-sharing platform aiming to transfer experience
(e) and best practices in the field of government development and modernization to other countries through UAE's Government Experience Exchange
(f) Programme; promoting joint business initiatives between entrepreneurs of the Parties; technical assistance and capacity building; and
(g) any other form of cooperation that may be agreed by the Parties.
Article 14.6. Subcommittee on Economic Cooperation
1. For the purposes of the effective implementation and operation of this Chapter, the Parties hereby establish a Subcommittee on Economic Cooperation (hereinafter referred to as the "Subcommittee") comprising relevant representatives of each Party.
2. The Subcommittee shall undertake the following functions:
(a) coordinate everything related to the cooperation generated within the framework of this Agreement;
(b) monitor and assess the implementation of this Chapter;
(c) identify new opportunities and agree on new ideas for prospective cooperation or capacity building activities;
(d) formulate and develop Work Programme proposals and their implementation mechanisms;
(e) coordinate, monitor and review progress of the Work Programme to assess its overall effectiveness and contribution to the implementation and operation of this Chapter;
(f) suggest to the Joint Committee amendments to the Work Programme through periodic evaluations;
(g) cooperate with other subcommittees and / or subsidiary bodies established under this Agreement to perform stocktaking, monitoring, and benchmarking on any issues related to the implementation of this Agreement, as well as to provide feedback and assistance in the implementation and operation of this Chapter;
(h) report to and, if deemed necessary, consult with the Joint Committee in relation to the implementation and operation of this Chapter; and
(i) carrying out other functions as may be assigned by the Joint Committee.
3. Meetings may be conducted in person or by any technological means available to the Parties.
Article 14.7. Non-application of Chapter 15 (Dispute Settlement)
Neither Party shall have recourse to dispute settlement under Chapter 15 (Dispute Settlement) for any matter arising under this Chapter.
Article 14.8. Annexes
The following annexes form an integral part of this Chapter:
(a) Annex 14A (Cooperation to Support Trade in Sustainable Agricultural Products);
(b) Annex 14B (Joint Efforts for Enhancing Participation in Global Value Chains); and
(c) Annex 14C (Competition Policy).
ANNEX 14A. COOPERATION TO SUPPORT TRADE IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
1. The Parties should collaborate to promote dialogue and cooperative activities that support trade and investment as essential elements to building sustainable and resilient agri- food systems, including initiatives that will aim to support trade facilitation for deforestation- free products.
2. The Parties should also collaborate exchanging ideas and supporting initiatives that accelerate the contimed transition to best practice sustainable agri-food systems with the aim of addressing global food security concerns, limiting the effects of climate change, and reducing the impact of agri-food systems on the environment.
3. Such cooperative activities and initiatives shall be WTO compliant.
ANNEX 14B. JOINT EFFORTS FOR ENHANCING PARTICIPATION IN GLOBAL VALUE CHAINS
The Parties shall endeavour to participate in programs or activities oriented to enhance their participation in Global Value Chains (hereinafter referred to as "GVCs"), as a means to:
(a) modernize and widen bilateral economic relations between their traders and investors;
(b) boost economic growth and facilitate their companies' internationalization and insertion into GVCs;
(c) foster linkages with Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (hereinafter referred to as "MSMEs") to contribute to employment creation and better allocation of resources; and
(d) broaden the outreach of the economic benefits derived from international trade, including through diversification and enhancing of value added in exports.
ANNEX 14C. COMPETITION POLICY
1. The Parties recognise the importance of free and undistorted competition in their trade relations. The Parties may cooperate to exchange information relating to the development of competition policy, subject to their domestic laws and regulations and available resources. The Parties may conduct such cooperation through their competent authorities.
2. The Parties may consult on matters related to anti-competitive practices and their adverse effects to trade. The consultations shall be without prejudice to the autonomy of each Party to develop, maintain and enforce its domestic competition laws and regulations.
3. Each Party shall promote competition by adopting or maintaining national competition laws that proscribe anti-competitive practices in its territory and shall take measures as it deems appropriate and effective to counter such practices
Chapter 15. DISPUTE SETTLEMENT
Article 15.1. Objective
The objective of this Chapter is to establish an effective and efficient mechanism for avoiding and settling disputes between the Parties concerning the interpretation and application of this Agreement with a view to reaching, where possible, a mutually agreed solution.
Article 15.2. Cooperation
The Parties shall endeavour to agree on the interpretation and application of this Agreement, and shall make every attempt through cooperation to arrive at a mutually satisfactory resolution of any matter that might affect its operation.
Article 15.3. Scope of Application
1. Except as provided in paragraphs 2 and 3, this Chapter shall apply with respect to the avoidance or settlement of any dispute between the Parties concerning the interpretation, or application of this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "covered provisions"), wherever a Party considers that:
(a) a measure of the other Party is inconsistent with its obligations under this Agreement; or
(b) the other Party has otherwise failed to carry out its obligations under this Agreement.
2. This Chapter shall not cover non-violation complaints and other situation complaints.
3. The Parties agree that neither Party shall have recourse to dispute settlement under this Chapter for any matter arising under the following Chapters of this Agreement: (a) Chapter 8 (Investment); (b) Chapter 13 (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises); and (c) Chapter 14 (Economic Cooperation).
Article 15.4. Contact Points
1. Each Party shall designate a contact point to facilitate communications between the Parties with respect to any dispute initiated under this Chapter.
2. Any request, notification, written submission, or other document made in accordance with this Chapter shall be delivered to the other Party through its designated contact point.
Article 15.5. Request for Information
Before a request for consultations, good offices, conciliation, or mediation is made pursuant to Article 15.6 or 15.7 respectively, a Party may request in writing any relevant information with respect to a measure at issue. The Party to which that request is made shall make all efforts to provide the requested information in a written response to be submitted no later than 20 days after the date of receipt of the request.
Article 15.6. Consultations
1. The Parties shall endeavour to resolve any dispute referred to in Article 15.3 by entering into consultations in good faith with the aim of reaching a mutually agreed solution.
2. A Party shall seek consultations by means of a written request delivered to the other Party identifying the reasons for the request, including the measure at issue and a description of its factual basis and the legal basis specifying the covered provisions that it considers applicable.
3. The Party to which the request for consultations is made shall reply in writing to the request promptly, but no later than 10 days after the date of receipt of the request. Consultations shall be held within 30 days of the date of receipt of the request. The consultations shall be deemed to be concluded within 30 days of the date of receipt of the request, unless the Parties agree otherwise.
4. Consultations on matters of urgency including those which concern perishable goods or where appropriate, seasonal goods (1) or goods or services that rapidly lose their trade value such as certain seasonal goods or services, shall be held within 15 days of the date of receipt of the request. The consultations shall be deemed to be concluded within those 15 days, unless the Parties agree otherwise.
5. During consultations each Party shall provide sufficient information so as to allow a complete examination of the measure at issue including how that measure is affecting the operation and application of this Agreement.
6. Consultations, including all information disclosed and positions taken by the Parties during consultations, shall be confidential, and without prejudice to the rights of either Party in any further proceedings.
7. Consultations may be held in person or by any other means of communication agreed by the Parties. Unless the Parties agree otherwise, consultations, if held in person, shall take place in the territory of the Party to which the request is made.
8. If the Party to which the request is made does not respond to the request for consultations within 10 days of the date of its receipt, or if consultations are not held within the timeframes laid down in paragraph 3 or in paragraph 4 respectively, or if the Parties agree not to have consultations, or if consultations have been concluded and no mutually agreed solution has been reached, the Party that sought consultations may have recourse to Article 15.8.
Article 15.7. Good Offices, Conciliation or Mediation
1. The Parties may at any time agree to enter voluntarily into procedures for good offices, conciliation, or mediation. They may begin at any time, and be terminated by either Party at any time.
2. Proceedings involving good offices, conciliation or mediation and the particular positions taken by the Parties in these proceedings, shall be confidential and without prejudice to the rights of either Party in any further proceedings under this Chapter or any other proceedings before a forum selected by the Parties.
3. If the Parties agree, procedures for good offices, conciliation or mediation may continue while the panel procedures proceed.
Article 15.8. Establishment of a Panel
1. The complaining Party may request the establishment of a panel ift