Participation
from the corporate world is vital to achieving solid outcomes from the World
Export Development Forum (WEDF) in Istanbul. The business community plays a
critical role in discussing with participants the challenges and opportunities
that corporations face in the least developed countries (LDCs). A better
understanding leads to increased chances of business opportunities and
successful public-private partnerships.
Leading up
to the WEDF, ITC has hosted online teleconferences in which high-level tourism
executives and consults from around the world participated. They shared their
experiences in LDCs and potential plans for investment. The information will inform a pre-WEDF workshop
in Nairobi as well as the WEDF plenary sessions. This in-depth knowledge about
particular barriers to investing in and conducting business in LDCs, as well as
solutions that the companies have found, provides valuable insight into the
forming of partnerships and laying the groundwork for potential investment.
The aim of
the pre-WEDF workshop in Nairobi is to make the first steps in the development
of three potential pilot projects, through the involvement of private and
public sector experts. The groups will put together project ideas which can be
further developed.
The process
will continue at WEDF where the three projects, then condensed into two
projects, and two additional projects already in more advanced stages of
development will be discussed. In
sessions dedicated to exploring the different potential projects, relevant
country participants will be joined by an expanded group of experts and interested parties for a broader range of expertise and
knowledge-sharing. The output from WEDF
is expected to be refined project documents developed with input from the
public sector, private sector, ITC and other UN agency partners.
Click here to download the programme in pdf.