Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest • Volume 9 • Number 3 • 2nd February 2005
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.
ICTSD Event
9 February, Geneva, Switzerland: THE KYOTO PROTOCOL AND THE FLEXIBLE MECHANISMS - WHAT’S THE TRADE CONNECTION? ICTSD is organising an informal "Café and Croissant" meeting which will address the emerging trade in carbon credits under the three Kyoto mechanisms (emissions trading, joint implementation and the clean development mechanism) and trade rules. The development of new schemes and markets for carbon credits is still in progress. While designed as stand-alone systems, there are, or can be, connections between carbon trading and the overall framework of WTO rules. These connections are as of yet not clearly defined or understood, but will become relevant as actual experience in emissions trading begins to accumulate, and the scale of trading increases. To mark the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol in February, ICTSD is organising an event that will include a presentation on the overall framework and emerging issues in the interface between trade and climate change, as well as case studies on emissions trading and the clean development mechanism. For further information see http://www.ictsd.org/dlogue/2005-02-09/Kyoto9Feb.pdf
Coming Up: 3 - 9 February
3-5 February, New Delhi, India: DELHI SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT. Organised by the Tata Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), this summit’s objective is to foster hope and stimulate action towards respectable standards of living for the world’s poorest people, and a responsible pattern of production and consumption among the richest. "Beyond Universal Goals: Steering Development towards Global Sustainability," is the theme that will be addressed throughout the forum. For further information contact the Summit Secretariat at TERI, tel: +91 11 2468 2100; fax: +91 11 2468 2144; email: dsds@teri.res.in; Internet: http://www.teriin.org/dsds/2005/index.htm
7-9 February, Geneva, Switzerland: WORLD SUMMIT ON THE INFORMATION SOCIETY THEMATIC MEETING ON MEASURING THE INFORMATION SOCIETY. Organized by the Partnership on Measuring Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for Development, this conference will bring together country representatives involved in the statistical measurement of the information society. The objectives of the meeting are to agree on a common list of ICT core indicators; to identify and address the needs of national statistical offices in developing countries with regards to technical assistance for the compilation of ICT indicators; to discuss mechanisms to quantify the relevance and contribution of ICT indicators towards promoting development and achieving the Millennium Development Goals; and, to present ongoing work on the creation and maintenance of an international database on ICT indicators. For further information, contact the United Nations Office at Geneva, fax: +41 (0)22 907 0052; email: emeasurement@unctad.org; Internet: http://measuring-ict.unctad.org/QuickPlace/measuring-ict/Main.nsf/h_Toc/30B3234BF0C98509C1256F5700692D89/?OpenDocument
7-11 February, Bangkok, Thailand: TENTH MEETING OF THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY SUBSIDIARY BODY ON SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE. Organised by the United Nations Environmental Programme. This meeting will discuss island biodiversity; issues for evaluating progress in the implementation of the strategic plan, including the 2010 biodiversity target and contributions to achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; global taxonomy initiative; and climate change. For further information contact the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, tel: +1 514 288-2220; fax: +1 514 288-6588; email: secretariat@biodiv.org; Internet: http://www.biodiv.org/welcome.aspx
WTO Events
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.
7 February: NEGOTIATING GROUP ON TRADE FACILITATION.
7 February: WORKING PARTY ON GATS RULES.
7-11 February: NEGOTIATING GROUP ON AGRICULTURE.
8 February: COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT - SPECIAL SESSION.
8 February: WORKING PARTY ON DOMESTIC REGULATION.
9 February: TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY - SIERRA LEONE.
9 February: COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN SERVICES.
9 February: NEGOTIATION GROUP ON TRADE FACILITATION.
Other Upcoming Events
10-12 February, Hyderabad, India: BIOASIA GLOBAL BIO BUSINESS FORUM. This annual conference is hosted by Genome Valley, a Hyderabad-based biotech cluster that is home to over 100 biotech companies. The conference will a focus on Asia as a global destination and address opportunities in clinical trials, contract research and manufacturing, diagnostics, health care, and intellectual property rights, among other topics. For further information contact BioAsia, tel: +91 (0)40 5528 1583; fax: +91 (0)40 5568 5300; email: conference@bioasia2005.org; Internet: http://www.bioasia2005.org/conference.htm
16-18 February, Cape Town, South Africa: INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON CREATIVITY AND INVENTIONS. This international forum is organised by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) of the Republic of South Africa in order to explore and discuss how invention and innovation influence employment generation and wealth creation. The six main themes of the forum are the conditions for successful economic and social use of inventions and innovations; key elements in striving for competitive advantage in inventions and innovations; increasing awareness and understanding of intellectual property systems; intellectual property in a knowledge-based society; wealth creation through invention, innovation and creativity; and the intellectual capital of nations. For further information contact the Division for Infrastructure Services and Innovation Promotion,tel.: +41 (0)22 338 9485; fax: +41 (0)22 338 9764; email: innovpro.mail@wipo.int; Internet: http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=6964
14-18 March, Geneva, Switzerland: UNCTAD COMMISSION ON TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES AND COMMODITIES, 9TH SESSION. The main agenda includes discussions on market access, market entry and competitiveness; trade in services and development implications; trade, environment and development; and a progress report on the implementation of agreed conclusions and recommendations of the Commission, including the post-Doha follow-up. For further information contact Mr. Mehmet Arda, tel: +41(0)22 917 5790; fax: +41(0)22 917 0509; email: mehmet.arda@unctad.org; Internet: http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Meeting.asp?intItemID=1942&lang=1&m=9478&year=2005&month=3