MATRADE will host the 2012 TPO Network World Conference & Awards

Participants in the last Conference voted for Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) to host the 9^th TPO Network World Conference and Awards in 2012.

Mr. Noharuddin Nordin, Chief Executive Officer, MATRADE, Malaysia, welcomed the opportunity. “We are happy to have the opportunity to organize the next TPO Network World Conference and Awards. We will continue the good work that has been done here and we will ensure that the experience will be as fruitful as it has been in Mexico City. ” he said.

Apex-Brasil was runner up and will take over the role of conference host should MATRADE decline for any given reason.

See you all in Malaysia in 2012 at the TPO Network World Conference & Network!

Hosting the TPO Network World Conference and Awards 2012 - Applications closed

The TPO Network World Conference and Awards are concurrent biennial events. The World Conference is produced for TPOs by TPOs with the purpose of helping TPOs to learn from each other through the sharing of good practice and experience, and, to assist each other’s efforts in providing trade related technical assistance (TRTA) to their beneficiaries. The event also provides opportunities for participants to find new, and strengthen existing, linkages to enhance cooperation that result in broadening access to support services.

This event brings the global network of TPOs together to discuss relevant, topical issues. The TPO Network Awards, which are presented during the Conference, recognize outstanding performance in the use of TPO processes and practices.

The TPO Network World Conference and Awards is open to all United Nations and WTO members.

It is a unique event, bringing together heads of TPOs from around the world, along with members of government ministries, international organizations and other distinguished stakeholders. The objective of the two days of discussions and networking is to encourage greater effectiveness for the beneficiaries of all trade related technical activities.

Conferences have previously been held in Cartagena, Colombia (1996); Santiago, Chile (1998); Marrakech, Morocco (2000); Beijing, China (2002); St. Julians, Malta (2004); Buenos Aires, Argentina (2007); and The Hague, The Netherlands (2008). This year’s event, hosted by ProMéxico, will be held in Mexico City from 13-15 October.

The host of the TPO Network World Conference and Awards is selected by means of a secret ballot by the representatives of the TPO Network participating in the 2010 event in Mexico City.

The host for the 2012 TPO Network World Conference and Awards will be announced on 14 October 2010 just before the closing ceremony.

CONFERENCE HOSTING AND BIDDING GUIDELINES

Thank you for your interest in hosting the 9th TPO Network World Conference and Awards. By presenting a bid to host the next event, you will be bidding for an opportunity to showcase your organization and your country.

Download the complete guidelines here

ELIGIBILITY

Hosting the TPO Network World Conference and Awards is open to officially recognized national TPOs mandated by their governments to act as the apex body for trade promotion in their countries.

In cases where no TPO has been established, government ministries often perform this function. As such they are also recognized as the apex body for trade promotion and could apply to launch a bid.

Geographical balance

ITC has no final say in which country will host the next 2012 Conference. However, considering the geographical balance of the locations is encouraged.

All bidders are welcome, but TPOs in Sub-Saharan African and South-Asian countries are strongly encouraged to bid. TPOs may venture into a partnership or strategic alliance with other trade support organizations or event organizers to offset costs. However, ITC will consider only the national TPO that lodges the bid as the official partner.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITES OF THE HOST COUNTRY

The winning bidder will embark on a close collaboration with ITC over the next two years towards the successful organization of the event. Soon after the closing of the 2010 event, ITC begins this relationship through the conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding with the host country outlining the requirements for hosting the 2012 event. Further to acting as the Conference host, the head of the winning TPO will sit on the 2012 Adjudicating Panel for the next edition of the ITC TPO Network Awards.

TPO NETWORK AWARDS - ADJUDICATING PANEL 2012

The TPO Network Awards are held concurrently with the TPO Network World Conference and are managed by ITC. The Executive Director of ITC chairs the Adjudicating Panel composed of:

The previous year’s award winners (the 2010 TPO Network Award winners will sit on the 2012 Adjudicating Panel).
The head of the TPOs from the previous and current host countries.
ITC’s Director of Division of Business and Institutional Support.

While ITC manages and organizes the TPO Network Awards, the role played by the host country for the Awards is twofold:

The head of the host country’s TPO sits on the Adjudicating Panel. This includes attending two to three meetings of the Adjudicating Panel at ITC over two years (2010-2012) and the review and evaluation of the submissions for the Awards.
As host of the Conference, the TPO is responsible for organizing and paying for the gala dinner and presentation ceremony where the Awards’ winners are recognized for their achievements. This traditionally takes place on the evening of the first day of the Conference.

Practical Considerations

The following information covers many of the issues that need to be considered before a TPO decides to host the TPO Network World Conference and Awards 2012. This information is also provided to assist bidding TPOs in the design of their bid.

TPOs submitting an Expression of Interest to ITC will present their bids during the TPO Network Conference on 14 October 2010 in Mexico City.

Timing: The 9th TPO Network World Conference and Awards will be held in 2012. The event typically takes place in October.

Planning and costs: The host TPO covers all local costs for the Conference. This includes event planning, logistics and promotion.

Conference programme: The host TPO works in close collaboration with ITC on the conference programme in selecting the theme, speakers, conference chair, etc.

Venue considerations: Recent Conferences have been planned to accommodate as many as 250 participants. The venue should provide adequate space for:

A plenary session with up to 250 people
Parallel break-out sessions
Secretariat space for the host committee and ITC
Rooms for bilateral meetings

Travel, accommodation and meals: Conference participants usually fund their own participation.

To encourage the largest possible representation from all member countries, the bidding TPO may wish to consider the following:

Flights: Airfares will depend on the location of the event. Though, if possible, they should not be too prohibitive for participants.
Transportation to and from the airport should be convenient and the location should be in reasonably close to a major airport.
ITC must follow the requirements set down by the United Nations when considering such events. This means that host countries must offer three alternative hotels for participants to choose from. The prices of these hotels must fall within the UN’s daily subsistence allowance for the particular city where the Conference and hotels are located.
It is advised that, as a minimum, lunches should be provided during the event. In past years, dinners on two days have also been included. This provides an opportunity for the host country to showcase the local culture and cuisine.

Please note: If the bidder would like to showcase a selected conference venue and the related hotels, please ensure the venue showcased in the bid complies with the above recommendations.

SUBMITTING AND PRESENTING THE BID

All prospective hosts will be given 10 minutes to present their bids in a plenary session during the first day of the 2010 TPO Network World Conference and Awards. This will be followed by a secret ballot vote where a representative of each nationally recognized TPO present will be able to cast her or his vote; only one vote per national TPO is accepted.

ITC counts the ballots, with the winner being elected by a simple majority vote. The winner will be announced at the end of the Conference before the closing ceremony.

ITC welcomes all expressions of interest from TPOs wishing to host the 2012 TPO Network Conference. Submitting a bid is done in two steps:

Lodging an Expression of Interest with ITC and
Preparing and submitting the bid.

STEP 1: LODGING AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST WITH ITC

Download the Expression of Interest form - To be sent until 20 September 2010

Please note: It may not be possible to consider a TPO’s bid if the Expression of Interest is submitted after this date due the scheduling of sessions in the Conference Programme.

STEP 2: PREPARING AND SUBMITTING THE BID

Please prepare a 10-minute presentation to be delivered during a plenary session on the first day of the 2010 Conference. This presentation can be in the form of a video, multimedia, PowerPoint etc. Past bidders have shown videos showcasing their TPOs and supported the presentation with a brief discussion concerning what the TPO would provide to the participants if it were selected. Please email or post the presentation material to ITC by 04 October 2010 (midnight Geneva time).

Information on past events is available at the TPO Network website, www.tponetwork.net

SUBMISSION AND CONTACT ADDRESS

Please e-mail, fax or post your Expression of Interest to the International Trade Centre at:

International Trade Centre
TPO Network Awards 2010
Palais des Nations
1211 Geneva
Switzerland

Contact persons: Mr. Miguel Camacho or Ms. Ann Penistan

Tel: +41 22 730 0199
Fax: +41 22 730 0576
E-mail: camacho[at]intracen.org or penistan[at]intracen.org