EVENTS
For a more comprehensive list of events in trade and sustainable development, please refer to ICTSD’s web calendar. If you would like to submit an event, please email us.
Upcoming : 20 October - 26 October
24-26 October, Geneva, Switzerland: EXPERT MEETING ON DYNAMIC AND NEW SECTORS OF WORLD TRADE. This UN Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD) intergovernmental expert meeting will review national and international policies and actions to enhance developing-country participation in dynamic and new sectors of international trade such as electronics, marine products and steel and related specialty products. For further information contact UNCTAD Meetings at e-mail: meetings@unctad.org.
25-26 October, New York, USA: UNEP FINANCE INITIATIVE GLOBAL ROUNDTABLE. The 2005 UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Finance Initiative Global Roundtable will provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information in the fields of finance, insurance and sustainability. This will include a strong focus on the issues of global carbon markets and responsible investment. For further information contact the UNEP FI Roundtable Secretariat, tel: (+41) 22-917-8178; fax: (+41) 22-796-9240; e-mail: roundtable@unepfi.org.
25-27 October, Tokyo, Japan: WTO AT 10: DISPUTE SETTLEMENT, MULTILATERAL NEGOTIATION, REGIONAL INTEGRATION. The Fair Trade Center and Tokyo Keizai University, in collaboration with Aoyama Gakuin University, the UN University Institute of Advanced Studies, and the Institute for International Studies and Training is hosting the third of a series of regional conferences commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the WTO Dispute Settlement System and the establishment of the Appellate Body. For further information contact Takashi Iwamoto tel: (+81) 3-3591-4550; fax: (+81) 3-3501-8066; e-mail: fvbf6745@infoweb.ne.jp.
26-27 October, Bangkok, Thailand: FINAL CONSULTATION FOR THE SOUTH-SOUTH ECONOMIC COOPERATION "EXPLORING MEKONG-GANGA RELATIONSHIP (MGR)" PROJECT. Organised by the Jaipur, India-based Consumer Unity and Trust Society Centre for International Trade, Economics & Environment (CUTS-CITEE), the conference will discuss key findings from background research and current business perceptions on the present and future scope for economic cooperation between India and Greater Mekong Sub-region countries. For further information contact Pooja Sharma or Swati Dhoot, tel: (+91) 141-2282821; fax: (+91) 141-2282485; email: citee@cuts.org.
WTO
An updated list of forthcoming WTO meetings is posted at: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/meets.pdf. Please bear in mind that dates and times of WTO meetings are often changed, and that the WTO does not always announce the important informal meetings of the different bodies. Unless otherwise indicated, all WTO meetings are held at the WTO, Centre William Rappard, rue de Lausanne 154, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland, and are open to WTO Members and accredited observers only.
20 October: COMMITTEE OF PARTICIPANTS ON THE EXPANSION OF TRADE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS
21 October: WORKING PARTY ON THE ACCESSION OF ALGERIA
24-25 October: DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BODY - SPECIAL SESSION
24-25 October: NEGOTIATING GROUP ON TRADE FACILITATION
24 October: COMMITTEE ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES
24-25 October: NEGOTIATING GROUP ON RULES
25-26 October: COUNCIL FOR TRADE-RELATED ASPECTS OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
26 October: INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK STEERING COMMITTEE
Other Upcoming
5-6 November, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic: FOURTH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ON CENTRAL ASIA REGIONAL ECONOMIC COOPERATION (CAREC). This Fourth Ministerial Conference will review progress in regional cooperation activities since the previous one in 2004, and set the direction and medium- to long-term priorities for regional economic cooperation. The conference will produce a joint ministerial statement. Participation is by invitation only. For further information contact the CARECU Secretariat, tel: (+632) 632-5857, (+632) 632-6368; fax: (+632) 636-2387; e-mail: carec@adb.org.
23-25 November, Dhaka, Bangladesh: NATIONAL CONSULTATION: REGIONAL ECONOMIC COOPERATION IN SOUTH ASIA. This consultation, organised by the Jaipur, India-based Consumer Unity and Trust Society Centre for International Trade, Economics & Environment (CUTS-CITEE), is designed to involve representatives from business groups, government, civil society and academia primarily from Bangladesh to create awareness and momentum towards regional cooperation with a view to influence the future direction of policies on trade and investment promotion within the country and amongst other South Asian countries. For further information contact Dr. Prasad P. Ranade, tel: (+91) 141-228-2821; fax: (+91) 141-228- 2485; e-mail, citee@cuts.org.
13-17 December, Hong Kong, China: HONG KONG TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT SYMPOSIUM. The goal of this symposium, co-convened by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the University of Hong Kong in collaboration with the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP), is to encourage innovative thinking on issues related to trade and development that could subsequently be translated into constructive inputs for the ongoing Doha Round negotiations. The main topics for discussions will be drawn from key development-related issues in the trade policy and trade rules arena. For further information contact Patrick Lunt, e-mail: plunt@ictsd.ch.