A meeting on "capacity-building and training: the role of regional integration groupings", organized by UNCTAD with the financial and logistical support of the local government of Gran Canaria, the Foundation "Puertos de Las Palmas" and the Chamber of Commerce of las Palmas, will take place from 15 to 19 March 2004 at the Palacio de Congresos in Las Palmas, Canary Islands.
The main objective of the meeting is to consider how to make the most of capacity-building and training activities, particularly in the areas of foreign direct investment (FDI), electronic commerce and commercial diplomacy.
Participants will include senior officials of regional and governmental organizations responsible for implementing trade negotiations, international investment agreements and electronic commerce.
UNCTAD, through its TrainForTrade programme, has signed an agreement with the three Canary organizations. TrainForTrade is aimed at strengthening the human and institutional capacities of developing countries through training, distance learning and the creation of networks on international trade, investment, trade-related services and port management. The agreement focuses on the preparation of training materials, their dissemination via distance learning and the organization of training seminars for African countries.
