Alongside World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations in Buenos Aires this December, the government of Argentina is officially partnering with ICC on the event’s Business Forum—the first ever official business event at a WTO ministerial conference.
The government of Argentina is hosting this year’s pivotal trade summit— the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference—on 10-13 December 2017 in Buenos Aires. On 12 December, the Argentine government has also organised an official “Business Forum” to ensure constructive engagement between business and the WTO process. The Business Forum will take place in partnership between the Argentine Ministry of Production, ICC, the World Economic Forum and the B20.
John Danilovich, Secretary General of ICC, said: “This high-profile Business Forum sends a strong signal that Argentina recognises the vital importance of business engagement with the WTO. Having business integrated into the WTO Ministerial is a prerequisite for success in Buenos Aires and beyond.”
The Argentine government hopes that the Business Forum will contribute to the progressive formalisation of the private sector’s role within the WTO, the Ministry of Production said in a statement.
The Business Forum will address key trade issues such as helping micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) do business across borders, trade in agriculture, investment facilitation and how trade can support gender equality.
ICC is a constant and active partner of the WTO, regularly issuing policy recommendations on behalf of the global business community as part of the World Trade Agenda or Trade Dialogues initiatives. In 2017, ICC and the WTO jointly launched the Small Business Champions initative, aimed at leveraging private sector solutions to helps MSMEs trade.
