South-North Dialogue of Food and Energy Security opens in Geneva, 17 June 2008

South Centre and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia in Geneva organized this joint event to assess the underlying causes and policy dilemmas related to energy security, food security and livelihood security and multilateral responses required to correct the systemic issues.

H.E I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, Charge d'Affairs, Permanent Mission of Indonesia to Geneva and Dr. Yash Tandon, Executive Director of the South Centre provided the welcome address. Ambassador Puja stressed the need for multilateral responses to multidimensional crisis such as that of food security while Dr. Tandon laid out the systemic issues underlying food crisis and which requires a rethinking of existing development strategies.

Opening remarks were made by Mrs. Lakshmi Puri, Acting Deputy Secretary General of UNCTAD and by H.E Ambassador Juan Antonio Fernandez Ambassador of Cuba to the UN. Mrs Puri described the food crisis as an urgent wake up call in the area of development while Ambassador Antonio Fernandez illustrated the negative impact on the realization of the right to food of the worsening of the world food crisis, caused inter alia by the soaring food prices’.

Session 1: Understanding the Extent of the Problem

Mr. Josef Schmidhuber from Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reminded the audience that food prices will remain high as long as oil prices remain high.

Mr. Mbaye Ndiaye from Permanent Mission of Senegal stressed that agriculture should be high in the economic agenda at the national and intenational level and adequate resources should be mobilized to help developing countries, especially the LDCs.

Ms. Umpika Poonachit, Permanent Mission of Thailand shared the policy responses undertaken by Thailand - as a rice exporting, middle-income developing country, to tackle the food security issue.

Section 2: Causes and Possible Solutions

Ms. Teresa Cavero (Oxfam) explained how decades of wrong policy prescriptions to developing countries and forced liberalization have led to price crisis. Developing countries were forced to let agriculture fall apart and then forced to open their markets which were flooded with cheap imports. Unregulated capital and commodity markets and push towards biofuels has fueled food crisis.

Over 80 people are participating in the event from Missions to the UN of countries of the North and South in Geneva, NGOs and other development agencies.

South Centre hosts International Trade Policy Students from University of West Indies

South Centre hosted the International Trade Policy Students, Cohort 4, Academic Year 2007-8 from the University of West Indies on 13 May 2008 at its office.

The Coordinators of the South Centre programme areas briefed the students on the various activities of the Centre, its constituency and the impact they have had.

South Centre organizes Meeting on SECURE / World Customs Organization

The South Centre organises a working lunch for its member countries in view of certain developments on issues concerning intellectual property (IP) enforcement at the World Customs Organisation (WCO). The WCO is increasingly focussing on the formation of enhanced border measures, primarily supported by G8 countries. In this connection, the third meeting of the Working Group on the provisional Standards Employed by Customs for Uniform Rights Enforcement (SECURE) in Brussels from April 24 to 25, 2008.

The meeting called for by the Innovation and Access to Knowledge Programme (IAKP) of the South Centre focused on the implications and possible strategies that developing countries must adopt in making their concerns properly addressed at the WCO. Dr. Xuan Li, Coordinator of the IAKP gave a presentation on the defects in both the process and contents in WCO SECURE draft provisions. According to Dr. Li, many provisions are TRIPS-Plus, which the developed countries were trying to push hard through the back door.

The member country delegates raised serious concerns over the choice of forum on IP enforcement related issues and strongly stated that such provisions in SECURE, and WCO as a forum to discuss IP enforcement, was totally unacceptable. The need for better coordination among and within developing countries was emphasised.

Delegation from Central Institute of Economic Management, CIEM, Vietnam visits South Centre

The Director Ms. Hoang Thu Hoa and the Deputy Director Mrs. Tran Thi Hong Minh, Information Department, Central Institute of Economic Management, CIEM, Hanoi visited South Centre on 14 April 2008.

The key objective of the visit was to learn from the experiences of the South Centre in the field of e-learning, e-publication and information portals. Mr. Vikas Nath, Head - Media and Communication, South Centre briefed the delegation on the various innovative services initiated by the South Centre including their costs and sustainability plans, and also the strategy of South centre to bring together through a single interface access to print, electronic and internet resources relevant to the growing constituency of the South Centre.

South North Dialogue: Capacity Building in Climate Change for Developing Countries

Capacity-building for developing countries to be able to adapt to climate change will be an important component in further enhancing the global cooperative framework for action on climate change under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The key question is how best to undertake capacity-building, together with the provision of financing and technology transfer under the Convention, to strengthen participation of developing countries in meeting the developmental challenges of climate change. This is an issue which needs to be discussed in a North-South as well as South-South context and forms the theme of our upcoming South - North Dialogue Series to be held on 16 April 2008 at the South Centre from 1300 - 1530.

Please RSVP your participation to: Mrs. Shirley de Leon-Garnier, By email: deleongarnier@southcentre.org, By telephone: 022 7918055 ext. 29

Opening address will be provided by Dr. Yash Tandon, Executive Director, South Centre. Perspectives will be shared by H.E. Mrs. Marie-Louise Overvad, Ambassador of Denmark, and Ms. Reena Wilfrid-René, Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of Mauritius. Closing remarks will be provided by Mr. Vice Yu, Lead Expert on Climate Change, South Centre.

The South North Dialogue Series is an activity taken up under the South Intellectual Platform of the South Centre.

For further details on the event, see the Events section at http://www.southcentre.org

UNCTAD XII Side Event: Trade, Commodities and Development: Perspectives on a Development Agenda in Commodities Trade

South Centre in partnership with Action Aid International is organizing a side event to the UNCTADXII conference in Accra, Ghana on 19 April 2008 from 12:30pm-3pm at the International Conference Centre.

The side event "Trade, Commodities and Development: Perspectives on a Development Agenda in Commodities Trade" will be chaired by Mr. Benjamin Mkapa, former President of Tanzania and Chairman of the South Centre.

The key objective of the event is to highlight the importance of taking action to address the problems linked to commodity dependence in developing countries, especially Africa. For more information about the event, the Agenda and the background documents in English, French and Spanish, please visit:
http://www.southcentre.org/Events/2008/2008Apr_UNCTADXII_Side_Event_19April.htm

or
http://www.unctadxii.org/en/Programme/Other-Events/Parallel-and-Side-Events/South-Centre-side-event/Key-Issues/

High Level Technical Meeting on EPAs: The Way Forward for the ACP

Ms. Luisa Rodriguez and Mr. Darla F. Marti, Programme Officers, Trade for Development Programme at the South Centre participated in the high-level technical meeting on EPAs organized by the Commonwealth Secretariat (UK) in Cape Town, South Africa from April 7-8, 2008.

Ms. Rodriguez gave a presentation on "Safeguards in EPAs" while Mr. Marti's presentation was on "EPA provisions regarding the Competition Policy."

The overall agenda of the meeting was to undertake a comprehensive stocktaking of EPAs that have been concluded in order to provide countries with an objective and accurate assessment of the content, character and implications of the various agreements that will help guide and inform their policy choices.

Decision-Making in the Global Trading System

Mr. Vice Yu, Coordinator - Global Governance for Development Programme (GGDP) made a presentation on "Developing Country Coalitions in the WTO" at the the event "Decision-Making in the Global Trading System" organized by the Swiss National Centre of Competence on 11 April 2008 in Research in Bern, Switzerland

19 young professionals from China, India, Brazil, Mexico, Egypt, Indonesia and South Africa visit South Centre

South Centre hosted 19 young professionals from China, India, Brazil, Mexico, Egypt, Indonesia and South Africa who formed a part of the "Managing Global Governance” programme of the German Development Institute (DIE) in Bonn for a briefing session on the programmes and activities of the South Centre.

The briefing was held on 28th March (Friday) at the South Centre and presentations were given by the coordinators of Trade for Development Programme (TDP), Innovation and Access to Knowledge Programme (IAKP) and the Information and Outreach Programme.

International Investment Agreements and the Exercise of National Policy Space

South Centre organized a working lunch event on "International Investment Agreements and the Exercise of National Policy Space" on 20 March from 1 pm -3pm.

Ms. Anna Joubin-Bret, Senior Legal Advisor, International Arrangements Section (IAS), Division on Investment, Technology and Enterprise Development (DITE), UNCTAD was the lead speaker. During her presentation, she elaborated upon the recent experiences of developing countries with respect to investment agreements contained in both bilateral investment treaties and other treaty arrangements, in particular providing Bolivia's experience as a case study.

Discussions followed on global trends in relation to international investment agreements and the development policy space issues and implications of such agreements for developing countries.

The event was organized by the Global Governance for Development Programme of the South Centre.

Lecture on "Developing countries in the multilateral trading system and the concept of Special and Differential Treatment"

Darlan F Martí, of the Trade for Development Programme, delivered a lecture at the University of Grenoble on "Developing countries in the multilateral trading system and the concept of Special and Differential Treatment". The lecture was attended by students of the Master on Globalisation and International Economy.

South Centre in Media: More Balance Needed In IP And Trade; Disclosure May Not Be Enough

The current patent system has been seen as the primary enabling mechanism for biopiracy, the misappropriation of genetic resources, said panellist Xuan Li, Coordinator of the innovation and access to knowledge programme at the intergovernmental South Centre. The World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) also has allowed the misappropriation of genetic resources, she said.

Li made the remarks at a 24 January event organised by the South Centre and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), held alongside a weeklong meeting of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) working group on access and benefit sharing (ABS). A Chinese official on the panel also raised these concerns and said that TRIPS is sometimes unbalanced and privileges the holder of IP.

Source: IP-Watch, 29 January 2008. http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/index.php?p=898

Read the South FACE from the event at: http://www.southcentre.org/southface/South_Face_IAKP-CBD-Jan-2008.pdf and watch the Digital Videos at: http://southcentre.blip.tv/

Watch Digital TV on "Disclosure of Origin at the CBD, WIPO and the WTO: Conflict, Coherence or Complementarity?"

The presentations made at the South Centre event on "Disclosure of Origin at the CBD, WIPO and the WTO: Conflict, Coherence or Complementarity?" have now been captured on the South Centre Digital TV.

For rest of the presentations, go to: http://southcentre.blip.tv

South Centre Participates in Prince Mahidol Award Conference 2008

Ermias Tekeste Biadgleng, Programme Officer, Innovation and Access to Knowledge Programme participated in the Prince Mahidol Award Conference 2008 held in Bangkok, Thailand from 30 January - 1 February 2008. The theme of this year conference was "Three Decades of Primary Health Care: Reviewing the Past and Defining the Future."

South Centre provides training at the ILO-organized "Trade Union Training on International Trade Agreements, Development and Trade Union Agenda"

Ermias Biadgleng, Programme Officer, South Centre acted as a trainer for sessions on Investment: TRIMS and Bilateral Investment Provisions and on Intellectual Property: TRIPS and IP provisions at the "Trade Union Training on International Trade Agreements, Development and Trade Union Agenda" organized by the International Training Centre of the ILO at Turin, Italy on 31 October 2007.

Emerging Powers and their role in Global Economic Governance: Impetus for Reform

Vice Yu, Coordinator, Global Governance for Development Progamme, South Centre participated in the roundtable on "The potential for South-South cooperation on influencing the emerging global economic governance architecture" organized by the South African Institute of International Affairs on 30 October 2007 in Johannesburg as a part of the conference on Global Economic Governance.

While there is widespread recognition of the need for reform, the experience of the last few years indicates that this will be a difficult process that holds many political minefields for countries. How can emerging powers and other developing states cooperate on moving the reform agenda forward? How can informal coalitions or groupings assist in this regard? What contribution can emerging powers make as responsible new actors in global governance institutions? These thoughts formed the basis of this roundtable session. More information at:
http://www.saiia.org.za/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1174

Making Patent Policy Work for Development: Lessons from the SWISS

South Centre organized its Fourth South Innovation Perspectives Seminar on 24 October at Palais des Nations, Geneva.

Dr. Nikolaus Thumm, Senior Economic Counsellor, Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property, Berne was the main speaker at this event and delivered his keynote presentation on "Making Patent Policy Work for Development: Lessons from the SWISS."

Prof. Dominique Foray, Chair of Economics of Innovation, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne and Mr. Huang Rengang, Minister Counsellor, Chinese permanent mission to the WTO provided commentary remarks to the presentation made by Dr. Thumm.

According to Dr. Thumm, patents are the second best solution since the first best option of "markets" does not work well. Four policy conclusions emerged from his presentation (i) To ensure a reasonable level of intellectual property protection is crucial. (ii) Only at a certain threshold of development does a patent system begin to spur innovation. (iii) The optimal level of IP protection varies- there is a different optimum for different countries and industries. (iv) The importance is to determine where we are actually.

The Seminar was chaired by Dr. Xuan Li, Lead Economist and Acting Coordinator, Innovation and Access to Knowledge Programme, South Centre and was attended by members from the civil society, UN Agencies and delegates from the Missions.

The Fifth South Innovation Perspectives Seminar will be organized on 5 December at Palais des Nations and Dr. Carloyn Deere will deliver the keynote presentation.

South Centre Event: South-North Capital Flows and the search for Innovative Sources of Finance (22 October)

South Centre in partnership with CIDSE/Centre of Concern is organizing an invitation-only panel event in New York on 22 October 2007 on South-North Capital Flows and the search for Innovative Sources of Finance. The Event seeks to present and discuss some ideas with developing country delegations working on Financing for Development issues in the context of the 2008 Review Conference for the Monterrey Consensus.

The results of policy research currently being undertaken by the co-organizers will be discussed with developing country delegations, and the Event will highlight some topical issues that might be relevant and of use to developing country delegations in the context of their preparations for the 2008 Review Conference and the 23-24 October 2007 High Level Dialogue on Financing for Development.

More information at:
http://www.southcentre.org/Events/2007Oct_Panel_Event_UNFFD.htm
http://www.un.org/esa/ffd//Events/2007_HLD_CalendarSideEvents.pdf

The South and Sustainable Development: South Centre participates in EcoLomics International Roundtable

Vice Yu, Coordinator - Global Governance for Development Programme, was a panelist at the EcoLomics International Roundtable on “Brundtland Report plus 20, EcoLomics International plus 5 : Quo vadis Sustainable Development?”

According to Mr. Yu, the development of developing countries underpins the very concept of sustainable development, with its three pillars of environmental protection, poverty eradication, and the elimination of unsustainable production and consumption patterns. In trying to achieve sustainable development, the global community will need to understand that developing countries are not going to give up on their right to development. This fact should be clearly recognized.

He stated that the failure of the current global system, and the role played by developed countries due to their own economic and political policies in such failure, underlies the deep skepticism displayed by developing countries and the lack of credibility that developed countries have among many developing countries over initiatives backed or pushed by developed countries relating to sustainable development and reforms of global environmental institutions.

The roundtable was organized by the University of Geneva on 18 October 2007.

Upcoming Seminar: Fourth South Innovation Perspectives Series (24 October)

The South Centre Innovation and Access to Knowledge Programme cordially invites you to the Fourth South Innovation Perspectives Series Seminar on Wednesday, 24 October 2007 at Palais des Nations, Room IX (Old building, 3rd Floor) from 3 pm to 5 pm.

This series is on "Making Patent Policy Work for Development: Lessons from the Swiss Experience." The keynote speaker is Dr. Nikolaus Thumm, Senior Economic Counsellor, Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property, Berne

The Commentators are Prof. Dominique Foray, Chair of Economics of Innovation, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne and Mr. Huang Rengang, Minister Counsellor, Chinese permanent mission to the WTO.

Full information about the seminar and registration procedures are available at:
http://www.southcentre.org/Events/SouthInnovationPerspectives_seminars.htm