On the 31st of December 1999 The World
Trade Organisation will start a new round of
negotiations to make progress in world trade
liberalisation, especially the liberalisation of
food trade. What effect will the hypotheses of
free-trade advocates have on the introduction
and normal operation of policies which, when
applied at regional and local level aim to
promote sustainable and multi-functional
development of rural areas? Are the two
compatible? What measures will have be taken
so that the positive effects of both can be used
for mutual benefit and their possible negative
effects neutralised?
Questions of this type were what lead
representatives of the Basque Government's
Department for Industry, Agriculture and
Fisheries, representatives of the Swiss Group
for Mountain Regions and representatives of the
Chile Rural Education Institute to consider the
possibility of coming together to look in depth
and from all different angles at the pros and
cons of freer trade and a more global economy
in the development of agrarian activity and rural
areas as a whole.
Ever since then, a lot of work has been put in to
converting what initially was only an idea into the
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
TRADE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT which
will be held on the 26th, 27th and 28th of
November in Vitoria.Gasteiz.. In the light of the
crisis currently affecting international financial
markets and the role that the globalization of the
economy has played in spreading it, this
Conference has now taken on even greater
interest.
What is more, we should not forget that this
project will not end with the closing of the
Conference, but rather it is an ideal meeting
point to build up new relationships and put into
operation projects which will strengthen them
and will provide them with continuity.
_____
Rosana Larrauri
<bold>Xabide. Technical Secretariat
Mondragón 11
01013 Vitoria-Gasteiz
T. +34 945 25 35 00
F. +34 945 25 38 74
E-mail: xabide@jet.es
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