www.worldbank.org/smallstates Representatives of the 45 small developing countries that are members of the World Bank met with partner institution representatives (including Commonwealth Secretariat, European Union, IMF, UNCTAD, World Bank, and World Trade Organization) at the 2006 Small States Forum. Participants discussed issues that are of particular interest to these countries (most with a population of less than 1.5 million). In keeping with the agreement reached in 2004 that the Forum Chair rotate biennially among the main small state regions, Vanuatu and the Pacific Islands Forum chaired the 2006 Small States Forum . The 2006 Small States Forum took place Monday, September 18, 2006, from 2 - 6 pm, on the eve of the World Bank Group - IMF Annual Meetings (September 19-20, 2006). 2006 Small States Forum Program The Forum was planned around three substantive sessions, allowing considerable time for engaged discussion. The first session centered on the private sector development, focusing particularly on private-public partnerships to boost private sector development in small states. The second session addressed labor mobility and remittances and the important role that these play in small states. The final session addressed ways to enhance small states' development efforts. Among the subjects discussed was the draft proposal of the Government of Malta for the establishment of a Small States Network for Economic Development. This initiative was discussed, and warmly welcomed by participants, at the closing of the 2005 Small States Forum. World Bank article on 2006 Small States Forum, Small States, Big Strides, One Network 2006 Small States Forum Documents For information on the substantive program of the Forum, contact Mr. Simeon Athy, Director General for Finance and Economic Management, Government of Vanuatu, e-mail: smathy@vanuatu.gov.vu. For information on the review of the small states agenda, which was finalized in August 2006, click here. |
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