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.
Coming Up: 15-21 November
15 November, Geneva, Switzerland. HIGH-LEVEL MULTISTAKEHOLDER MEETING: MOBILIZING RESOURCES AND HARNESSING KNOWLEDGE FOR DEVELOPMENT - INVESTMENT AND THE LOCAL PRODUCTION OF ESSENTIAL MEDICINES. This dialogue, organised by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), will discuss options for strengthening developing and least-developed countries’ local capacities in the pharmaceutical sector, including through investment, intellectual property rights, and trade. It will have an emphasis on innovative approaches to the use of TRIPS flexibilities, on development objectives and on the feasibility of national approaches taken by various countries in line with their international commitments. Internet: http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Meeting.asp?intItemID=2068&lang=1&m=14735&year=2007&month=11
19-20 November, Brussels, Belgium. BEYOND GDP. This high-level conference hopes to measure progress, true wealth and the well-being of nations. The European Commission, European Parliament, Club of Rome, OECD and WWF will host a high-level conference with the objectives of clarifying which indices are most appropriate to measure progress, and how these can best be integrated into the decision-making process and taken up by public debate. The conference will bring together high-level experts and policy makers to address these critical issues. Over 300 people from economic, social and environmental spheres from across the globe will attend. Preceding the main political conference, an expert workshop will be held, where leading practitioners will consider progress in the development and policy application of indicators of progress, true wealth, and well-being. Internet: http://www.beyond-gdp.eu/index.html
19-21 November 2007. Bonn, Germany. SECOND WORLD RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSEMBLY (WREA) 2007: This Assembly is the follow-up event of the First World Renewable Energy Assembly, of the 2nd World Renewable Energy Forum and of the International Parliamentary Forum on Renewable Energies, held in Bonn in 2004 and 2005. It is organized by EUROSOLAR and supported by InWEnt, by the City of Bonn, EUFORES, by the International Solar Energy Society (ISES), IUCN Environmental Law Center, Legambiente Italy, Global Green Cross, and World Future Council, among others. Internet: http://www.wrea2007.org
19 November, Geneva, Switzerland. STOCKHOLM CONVENTION POPRC-3. The third meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee of the Stockholm Convention. Internet: http://www.pops.int
19-23 November, Dar-Es-Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania. WORKSHOP ON THE TEACHING AND RESEARCH OF TRADE AND POVERTY FOR AFRICAN ACADEMICS. Organised by UNCTAD, this is a workshop will address conceptual and methodological approaches to the teaching and research of the trade-poverty relationship, as well as resulting policy implications. University teachers and/or researchers from African countries, in particular the Least Developed Countries, involved in teaching and research on trade, and economic and social development, are encouraged to apply. Internet: http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Meeting.asp?intItemID=2068&lang=1&m=13980&year=2007&month=11
19-20 November, Geneva, Switzerland. UNCTAD EXPERT MEETING ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT ASPECTS OF TOURISM SERVICES: UNCTAD XII PRE-EVENT. The meeting aims to discuss tourism services and their trade and development implications. Tourism is an important source of income and job creation for many developing countries, particularly LDCs and small island economies. It has the potential to grow in the future, as more countries manage to capitalize on their natural assets through stable political environments, improved infrastructure and access to international markets. In the two day UNCTAD Expert Meeting, four sessions will address: (i) Global tourism trends and their impacts on developing countries; (ii) Sustainable tourism development: An avenue for economic diversification and poverty reduction; (iii) Implementation of effective tourism policies in enhancing competitiveness in the tourism sector; and (iv) Tourism development, regional integration and WTO GATS negotiations on tourism. The meeting will provide an opportunity for actors from public and private sectors, including trade negotiators, policy makers, academia and civil society to explore different facets of tourism services in an open debate at the international level. For information e-mail: Norbert.Lebale@unctad.org and Emily.Mburu@unctad.org; internet: http://www.unctad.org/Templates/meeting.asp?intItemID=2068&lang=1&m=14616&info=not
20-22 November, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. FIFTH ROUNDTABLE MEETING ON SUSTAINABL E PALM OIL: PROMOTING GROWTH, TRADE IN AND USE OF SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL. Organised by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, this meeting will discuss the latest developments in bringing sustainable palm oil to the marketplace and developing, verifying, and implementing global standards on sustainable palm oil production. The meeting will feature the unveiling of the Roundtable’s Certification System, which is expected to be a significant step in opening the door to creating a sustainable palm oil market. Internet: http://www.rspo.org/5th_Roundtable_Meeting_(RT5)_on_Sustainable_Palm_Oil.aspx
21-30 November, Montevideo, Uruguay. THIRD ADVANCED REGIONAL TRAINING COURSE ON MANAGING INVESTMENT DISPUTES FOR LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES. The objective of the training course is to strengthen the capacity of Latin American government officials and practitioners to manage investor-State disputes, that might arise from international investment agreements and free trade agreements. Internet: http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Meeting.asp?intItemID=2068&lang=1&m=14537&year=2007&month=11
21 November, Geneva, Switzerland. NEGOTIATING PHARMACEUTICAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS: INTERNATIONAL GOVERNANCE IN NEED OF COORDINATION. Organised by UNCTAD, the Stockholm Network and the South Centre, this workshop will discuss how increased coordination of multilateral discussions might lead to improvements in the system for pharmaceutical innovation, to address developed and developing country diseases and public health needs, ways in which coordination between the various bodies can be enhanced, what the role of external players in this process should be and whether these negotiations will lead to a better pharmaceutical IP system or instead, damage it. Internet: http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Meeting.asp?intItemID=2068&lang=1&m=14734&year=2007&month=11
WTO
An updated list of forthcoming WTO meetings is posted at: http://www.wto.org/meets_public/meets_e.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.
15 November. WORKING PARTY ON THE ACCESSION OF THE LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC.
15 November. COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN SERVICES - SPECIAL SESSION.
16 November. COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN SERVICES.
16 November. COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DVELOPMENT - SESSION ON AID FOR TRADE.
19 November. TECHNICAL WORKSHOP ON AID FOR TRADE.
19 November. DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BODY.
19 November. AID FOR TRADE SESSION: MAINSTREAMING, REGIONAL APPROACHES AND PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.
20-21 November. GENERAL COUNCIL - AID FOR TRADE.
21 November. COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE.
21 November. GENERAL COUNCIL.
22 November. COMMITTEE ON BUDGET, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION.
22 November. NINTH ROUND OF CONSULTATIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE ASPECTS OF COTTON.
23 November. COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS.
Other Upcoming
22 November, Brussels, Belgium. EU BILATERAL AND REGIONAL FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS - BRINGING WOMEN TO THE CENTRE OF THE DEBATE. This is a one day consultation by WIDE and the International Gender and Trade Network and is sponsored by the European Commission. The overall aim of the project is to raise awareness and create an enhanced understanding on the impacts of (EU) trade polices on women’s livelihoods, gender equality and social justice in partner countries. Internet: http://www.igtn.org/page/761/1
22-23 November, Geneva, Switzerland. NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN SERVICES. Organised by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Centre d’ (OECD) and the Centre d’études prospectives et d’informations internationals, this meeting aims to examine UNCTAD’s Debt-management programme´s capacity building activities in debt management, its debt management and financial analysis (DMFAS) system, and the future direction of the Programme. Internet: http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Meeting.asp?intItemID=2068&lang=1&m=14699&year=2007&month=11
29 November, New Dehli, India. NATIONAL CONSULTATION SERVICES TRADE AND DOMESTIC REGULATION IN INDIA. This consultation is organised by engaging the policy-makers (including regulators), civil society representatives, inter-governmental and multilateral agencies, academics and media. Country background paper and two sectoral case studies will be presented at this meeting. After receiving comments from various stakeholders, a synthesis paper will be prepared, outlining the policy implications and impact of services liberalisation and domestic regulation on these countries’ economies. This synthesis paper will be finalised after conducting the dissemination meeting so that deliberations at these meetings are taken on board. It will act as a policy advocacy document for future. Internet: http://www.cuts-citee.org/events-archive-nov07.htm#event01