The UNCTAD secretariat, in close cooperation with UNESCAP, is organizing a series of meetings on Trade and Environment issues and their contribution to MDGs, in Bangkok, Thailand, from 18 to 20 October 2006. These meetings will be held back-to-back with the UNESCAP meeting Regional Workshop on the Trade and Environment Dimensions in the Food and Food Processing Industries in Asia and the Pacific, from 16 to 18 October. UNCTAD's series of meetings aims to explore the interface between Trade and Environment and its relationship with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The topics addressed will be
(i) market access and the impact of environmental requirements from the perspective of developing countries,
(ii) organic agriculture and sustainable development, and
(iii) the stakes involved in negotiating environmental goods at the WTO.

A briefing session on the activities of the UNEP-UNCTAD Capacity Building Task Force (CBTF) on Trade, Environment and Development will complement the substantive debates.

UNESCAP Regional Workshop Regional Workshop on the Trade and Environment Dimensions in the Food and Food Processing Industries in Asia and the Pacific 16-18 Oct 2006 (http://www.unescap.org/esd/environment/cap/meeting/regional/index.asp)

UNCTAD Regional Workshop
Meeting 1:Maximizing the contribution of Organic Agriculture to Achieving the Millennium Development Goals in the Asia and Pacific Region. 18 October 2006 (13.30 - 17.30) and 19 Oct (8.30-12.30).
Also there will be a Briefing on recent and planned activities of the UNEP-UNCTAD Capacity Building Task Force on Trade, Environment and Development (CBTF). 19 October 2006 (14.00 -17.30).
Meeting 2:Liberalization of International Trade in Environmental Goods and Services and its Contribution to Fulfilling the MDGs in Asia and the Pacific. 19 - 20 October 2006 (9:00 - 17:00).

All meetings will take place at the Conference Centre, UN Complex, Bangkok (see below for further information on the venue)