Linking growth markets: new dynamics in global trade
15 - 17 October 2012, Jakarta, Indonesia
The recent financial crisis has resulted in global growth dropping from 2.7% in 2011 to a projected 2.5% for 2012. Some markets, however, are demonstrating considerable resilience in the downturn. The private sector is now focusing more attention on these growth markets in Asia and Latin America, seeking new opportunities to complement sluggish growth in more mature markets. The World Export Development Forum (WEDF), the flagship event of the International Trade Centre (ITC), will this year focus on the opportunity of linking some of these growth markets through interregional trade between the ASEAN region, Latin America and Africa, and the potential for this process to contribute to trade-led inclusive sustainable development. The event is being hosted by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia.
New dynamics in global trade are already reflected by growing interregional trade between emerging economies and developing countries. China is by any account the most important force in the development of new interregional trade links. However, countries including Brazil, India, South Africa, Turkey and Indonesia have also stepped up efforts to strengthen ties with new partners, especially in Africa. There is enormous potential for growth, including in trade in services, provided that essential cooperation between the public and private sectors takes place to accurately assess obstacles to achieve growth in interregional trade and find ways to overcome them.
Building on these latest trends in global trade, WEDF 2012 will bring together 250-300 practitioners and policymakers to explore new ways of making trade integration work despite the challenges of the global economic and trade environment. Over two-and-a-half days businesspeople, representatives of governments and trade support institutions, academia and international organizations will work together to identify opportunities to establish new supply chains and reach tangible outputs, including linking businesses across and between regions.
Among the topics to be discussed:
• New dynamics in ASEAN-Africa and Latin America-Africa trade
• Hard and soft infrastructure necessary to facilitate successful interregional trade
• Supply chain gaps and opportunities
• Financing trade between growth markets
In the run up to WEDF, ITC is facilitating meetings between African and Asian business leaders and government officials to identify mutually beneficial trade and investment opportunities that could also be showcased at the conference.
Within the framework of WEDF 2012 participants will also have the opportunity to meet with exhibitors and international buyers at Indonesia’s largest annual trade show, the 27th Trade Expo Indonesia http://www.tradexpoindonesia.com/, which will be held from 17-21 October 2012 in Jakarta.
More information on topics and programme will be available later.