The forty-third annual meeting of the Joint Advisory Group on the International Trade Centre (ITC) will convene from 14 to 15 December 2009 at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, starting at 10:00 a.m., in Room XVII.

The Joint Advisory Group will examine the activities of the ITC and make recommendations to the UNCTAD Trade and Development Board and the WTO General Council. Discussions will focus on the ITC Strategic Plan (2010-2013) and the 2010 Programme Document. One session will be set aside for a presentation of ITC´s export strategy work. An opportunity will also be provided for the announcement of donor contributions to ITC for 2010.

Governments of States members of UNCTAD and members of WTO are invited to send representatives to this meeting. It is recommended that this representation be at the level of senior officials concerned with trade promotion or the development of foreign trade in general. It is especially desirable that the developing countries and economies in transition, which ITC is designed to serve, be adequately represented.

The meeting is open to United Nations specialized agencies and bodies and to other intergovernmental organizations with observer status and non-governmental organizations having an interest in trade promotion.

It is requested that the names of representatives to the Joint Advisory Group meeting be communicated to the International Trade Centre (ITC), Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva 10 (fax no: + 41 22 730 0575 or 733 4439), or e-mail (itcreg@intracen.org) by 6 December 2009.