The European Commission (EC) approved funding of a successor TRTA programme to build on and complete the interventions and capacity building process initiated under TRTA I from 2004-2007. The successful operation of TRTA I resulted in significant gains in terms of building WTO awareness, capacity development of conformity assessment institutions and improvement of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) regime. In view of the achievements made under TRTA I and requirements to further strengthen the trade capacity building process in Pakistan, the EC approved funding of the successor TRTA II programme.