17th December 2005

Hong Kong Trade and Development Symposium Session 11.3: What About the Small Producers?


Will current proposed trade reforms to improve market access help the small producers? Trade programmes and experience shows that improving market access for developing countries can deeply impact the development process for developing countries. However, evidence also shows that small producers face a range of barriers that will continue to hamper their ability to take their products to market. Indeed, issues such as commercial legal framework, access to credit, technological development and dominance of large buyers, will not be affected by proposed trade reforms. A pro-poor market agenda must address all these levels of policy reform at international, domestic and local spheres.

This seminar will look at market access from the perspective of the small producers. Taking evidence from the small producers themselves, the seminar will examine the range of barriers to trade at the domestic and international levels and the necessary policy reforms that are urgently needed. The seminar will then propose a policy reform agenda based on the findings from a new World Vision report that will tackle the barriers to access.

Agenda

The Seminar will concentrate on three perspectives with four panellists followed by a small facilitated discussion with the audience.

Three perspectives:
1) Trade barriers and reform: a producer’s view - perspective from a small producer on the barriers to access in the international and domestic context.
2) The policy angle - international and domestic barriers: perspectives from policy analysts on the policy reforms needed to help small producers based on finding from the World Vision report.
3) An advocacy agenda for market access and development work for small producers: proposing a policy reform agenda to tackle the illustrated barriers.

Organisers

World Vision is an international Christian relief, development and advocacy organization to promote the well being of all people - especially children. In 2004, World Vision provided material, emotional, social, spiritual and advocacy support to millions of people in 96 countries.

Background Documents

A paper is being produced for this seminar. Hard copies will be provided at the seminar.