World Export Development Forum (WEDF) The 2008 World Export Development Forum will be held this autumn in its traditional home of Montreux, Switzerland. Please reserve these dates in your calendar: 8 to 11 October 2008 World Export Development Forum global debate - W•E•D•F Venue: Fairmont Le Montreux Palace Hotel This year marks the 10th edition of the forum.The theme will focus on "Consumer Conscience: How Environment and Ethics Are Influencing Exports". As consumers everywhere are becoming more aware and more involved in environmental, ethical and social stewardship, they are demanding more responsible behaviour from producers and businesses. The voice of the consumer is triggering a gravitational shift in influence. Enterprises and economies must be prepared to keep pace. On the one hand, this consumer conscience in rich countries is opening up important trade opportunities for developing countries. There has, for example, been a huge increase in demand for organic products whilst the call for sustainable producer livelihoods, prohibition of forced or child labour, fair wages for workers, fair trade, and the promotion of biodiversity grows stronger. For most developing countries, however, the challenges are enormous. As they struggle to integrate in the global economy, poor countries now have to contend with new demands that they are ill prepared to meet. Preliminary Programme Outline Conditions of Participation (National Teams) Registration Form (National Teams): Online Form Word Form (to be submitted by email to wedf@intracen.org) Conditions of Participation (Individual Participants) Registration Form (Individual Participants): Online Form Word Form (to be submitted by email to wedf@intracen.org) Accommodation Highlights from the World Export Development Forum 2007 Bringing Down the Barriers Charting a Dynamic Export Development Agenda Pdf (3984 KB)   Field Level Support in Strategy Design and Management During 2008, ITC will provide direct assistance to a number of countries that are currently developing, or planning to develop, coherent national or sector-level (product or service sectors) export strategies. For more information on the approach and methodology, please Contact us now. Capacity-building Workshops on export strategy design and management ITC provides capacity building in the design and management of export development strategies. Based on “best practice” cases and approaches, these workshops provide strategy-makers with tools and expertise to better design and implement national and sectoral export strategies.