EVENTS
For a more comprehensive list of events in trade and sustainable development, please refer to ICTSD’s web calendar at: http://www.ictsd.org/cal/index.htm. If you would like to submit an event, please email events@ictsd.ch.
Upcoming : 30 November - 6 December
30 November- 8 December, Geneva, Switzerland: INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND GENETIC RESOURCES, TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND FOLKLORE (TENTH SESSION). For more information see http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=11222 or contact the IGC Secretariat, tel: +41 22 338 8161; fax: +41 22 338 8120; e-mail: grtkf@wipo.int.
4-5 December, Santa Cruz, Bolivia: FIRST INTER-AMERICAN MEETING OF MINISTERS AND HIGH-LEVEL AUTHORITIES ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. This meeting of environment ministers and senior officials from the Organisation of American States (OAS) will identify specific opportunities for cooperation in integrating environmental management within core economic development, poverty alleviation and related goals. The meeting shall identify practical, replicable project and policy lessons integrating the three pillars of sustainable development: economic development, social issues and environmental protection. Focuses will include integrated water-resource management, risk sharing and risk transfer arrangements of natural disasters, and sustainable agriculture, sustainable forestry and tourism. For more information see http://www.oas.org/dsd/MinisterialMeeting/ReunionInterAm_eng_v1.htm.
4-5 December, Geneva, Switzerland: EXPERT MEETING IN SUPPORT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION AND FOLLOW-UP OF THE WORLD SUMMIT ON THE INFORMATION SOCIETY: USING ICTs TO ACHIEVE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. Jointly organised by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the International Labour Organization (ILO). Research findings confirm that information and communication technologies (ICTs) contribute positively to economic growth in both developing and developed countries. Evidence abounds that ICTs create opportunities for industries and businesses in developing countries to overcome the constraints posed by limited access to resources and markets; lower transaction costs and facilitate trade; stabilise employment levels for the manufacturing sector; and promote growth in business services. This meeting will bring together experts from both developed and developing countries to share views and experiences on how to harness the benefits offered by ICTs to support economic and social development. For more information see http://www.unctad.org/Templates/meeting.asp?intItemID=1942&lang=1&m=11908&info=not; e-mail: Diana.korka@unctad.org; tel: +41 (0) 22 917 5548; fax: +41 (0) 22 917 0052.
WTO
An updated list of forthcoming WTO meetings is posted at: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/events_e/events_e.htm. 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.
30 November: COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN SERVICES
30 November: WORKING PARTY ON THE ACCESSION OF THE LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
1 December: SERVICES COMMITTEE ON SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS
6 December: WORKING PARTY ON THE ACCESSION OF SERBIA
Other Upcoming
12-15 December, Nairobi, Kenya: AFRICAN REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON SUSTAINABLE USE. Organised by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Government of the Netherlands, and hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). This will be the third in a series of technical expert workshops on ecosystem services assessment, the sustainable use of biological resources, and the financial costs and benefits associated with conservation of biodiversity. For more information see http://www.biodiv.org/doc/meeting.aspx?mtg=RWSUAFR-01&tab=3.
18-19 December, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: NATIONAL SEMINAR ON GLOBALISATION AND INDIA: VOICES FROM THE GROUND. Organised jointly by the Consumer Unity and Trust Society’s Centre for International Trade, Economics & Environment (CUTS-CITEE) and the Network of Entrepreneurship & Economic Development (NEED). The objective of this seminar is to provide a forum for civil society representatives to share their experiences in generating awareness on the linkages between trade and development throughout India; and to deliberate over the best policy methods to ensure that the poor benefit from globalisation. For more information, see http://www.cuts-citee.org/events.htm.