GLOBAL AGROINDUSTRIES FORUM (Improving Competitiveness and Development Impact)
New Delhi, 8-11 April 2008
Registration Practical information
• Why the Global Forum
• Programme
• Speakers
• Agenda
• Organizers, Sponsors & Partners
• Newsroom
• Background information
• Contact details
Registration
The Forum is by invitation only for country delegations, including public and private sector, associations and NGOs representatives, and International Organizations delegations.
For more information, please contact the GAIF Secretariat at FAO:
Global Agro-Industries Forum 2008
Rural Infrastructure and Agro-Industries Division
FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
00153, Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 570 53 193 Fax : +39 06 570 54 960
e-mail: gaif08@fao.org
http://www.fao.org/ag/ags/index.html
Practical information
Transport
All delegates are requested to send their travel arrangements to GAIF secretariat at FAO in advance to arrange pick up at airport.
Transport from and to airport is being arranged for all international delegates booked in a conventioned hotel (list below).
Transportation between hotels (from the list below) and Vigyan Bhavan by shuttle fully air-conditioned buses will be arranged by GAIF according to the Forum schedule.
Forum Venue
Address:
Vigyan Bhavan is the official Indian Government Conference Centre situated in the Centre of New Delhi.
Passport and Visas
All delegates will receive a formal letter of invitation from the Government of India to the GAIF 2008 in order to arrange visas.
Delegates are responsible for arrangement of their visas at the closest Indian diplomatic or consular offices.
Accomodation :
Please find below the list of hotels that have an agreement with the Forum.
Please book rooms directly with the hotel, quoting GAIF 2008 to obtain the discounted rate and provide the FAO Forum Secretariat with the details of your stay in the registration form.
International Guest House, NASC - 70 single bedrooms available
price : US$ 50 per night + breakfast
Tel : + 91-11- 25843145
4 & 5 stars and luxury hotels:
Ashok Hotel - 60 standard rooms available -
price per night: 7900 rupees + hotel tax
Tel: + 91-1126110101
For more information on and booking details on the Ashok Hotel, please e-mail: reservation@theashokgroup.com
Crowne Plaza - 100 standard rooms available-
Price per night: 8500 rupees + hotel tax
For more information and booking details, please
The Grand New Delhi - 25 rooms available
Price per night: 8500 rupees + hotel tax
Tel: +91 11 26 77 12 34
e-mail: reservation@unisonshotels.com
For more information and booking details, please
The Grand intercontinental- 100 standard rooms available-
Price per night: 9000 rupees + Hotel Tax
Tel: + 91- 11- 44447777
e-mail:newdelhi@interconti.com
For more information, please
The Hyatt Regency Delhi - 50 rooms available
Price per night: 9 000 rupees + hotel tax
Tel:+91 11 2679 1234
For more information and booking details, please
Taj Ambassador - 40 standard rooms available-
Price per night: 9870 rupees for a single room and 10920 rupees for a double room + Hotel tax
Tel: + 91-11-24632600
e-mail: ambassador.delhi@tajhotels.com
For more information, please
Le Meridien - 40 standard rooms available-
Price per night: 10 000 rupees + Hotel Tax
Tel: + 91-11- 23710101
For more information, please Click here
Useful local information:
Dress Code:
Formal dress or national costumes are suggested for formal social events.
Time zone:
The Indian standard time is on GMT + 5:30 hrs
Languages:
English and Hindi are included as national languages in India.
Currency and Banking:
The local currency is the Indian Rupee. Major foreign currencies can be exchanged in selected banks. Banks are usually open from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 hours to 15:00 hours; some banks close at 17:00 hours. New Delhi has ATMs.
The current exchange rate is : US$ 1 = 40 Indian Rupees.
Electrical Supply:
Power supply in India is 220 volts, 50 hertz.
The Indian outlet system can accomodate European Electric plug system (two round pins).
Medical Information:
No vaccinations are necessary to enter India except Yellow Fever for delegates traveling from those countries that are considered infected. Countries that are considered infected are all African countries (except Algeria, Botswana, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Lesotho, Libya, Malawi, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tunisia and Zimbabwe) and all South American countries (except Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay). When a case of yellow fever is reported from any country, that country is regarded by the Government of India as being infected. See www.worldtravelguide.net for more information on health requirements to enter India. The usage of sun block is recommended during prolonged exposure.
Postal Service
Post offices are open from 09:00 hours to 17:00 hours, Monday through Saturday. Most large hotels also provide postal service at front desks.
Telecommunications
The country code for India is + 91 followed by an area code and by an eight digit phone number. The code for New Delhi is 11
From India, international calls are made by dialing 00 followed by the country code and phone number.
Phone booths and cyber cafes are commonly available
Cellular telephones work at GSM 900/1800 MHz.
Both GSM and CDMA Networks are available.
Tipping
Tipping is not compulsory but universally appreciated.
Water
Bottled water is highly recommended.
Street Food
Enjoyable but with significant risks for the unaccustomed.
Why the Global Forum
The development of competitive agro-industries is crucial for creating employment and income opportunities and for enhancing the demand for farm products.
Agro-industry development has the potential to provide employment for the rural poor in off-farm activities such as handling, packaging, processing, transporting, and marketing of food and agricultural produce.
There are also risks and trade-offs in agro-industrial development often affecting the most vulnerable countries and people.
It is thus important to build on experiences and understandings of trends,in order to formulate sound policies and strategies for fostering agro-industries.
What will the Global Forum Achieve?
The Forum will help:
1. Develop a shared vision on the factors critical to future developments of agro-industries, key factors affecting competitiveness and potential action areas,
2. Learn from key lessons and success stories to develop competitive agro-industries in the developing world,
3. Ensure stronger collaboration and joint activities among multi lateral organizations working on agro-industrialization and clarify the roles of the public sector, multi lateral organizations and the private sector in agro-industrial development,
4. Engage multilateral organizations and financial institutions in launching initiatives at national and regional levels to foster agro-industrial development.
Programme
The Forum will bring together for four days:
- Senior level policy-makers,
- Food industry leaders,
- UN technical agencies,
- Civil society organizations
- Agro-industry specialists.
The programme comprises plenary addresses, parallel roundtable discussions and regional strategy workshops.
The structure for the programme sessions, is presented in the table below.
Welcome addresses by the heads of FAO, UNIDO and IFAD and a high official representative from the Government of India.
Keynote address by a high level authority
First session
1. Agro-industry trends, patterns and developmental impacts
2. Enabling environments for competitive agro-industries
Second session
3. Technologies shaping the future
4. Business models for small farmers and SMEs
Third session
5. Public-private sector cooperation
6. Global citizenship and responsibility
Regional strategy workshops
Roundtables and panel discussions with stakeholders of 5 identified regions:
- Africa
- Near East
- Eastern Europe-Central Asia
- Asia and the Pacific
- Latin America and the Caribbean
Competitiveness roundtables
1. Market research and intelligence
2. Emerging concerns in quality and safety,
3. Technology acquisition and utilisation
4. Value chain development
5. Branding and certification
6. Agro-industry and agro-enterprise finance
7. Innovation, product development, adaptation
8. Agro-industries operations management
9. Producer organizations and co-operatives
10. Agro-industrial clusters and food parks
11. Infrastructure development
12. Human resources development
Speakers
On Wednesday 9 April 2008 at 9:00 will take place the Official Inauguration of the Forum, in the presence of:
His Excellency Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India,
Mr Jacques Diouf, Director Generalof the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO),
Mr Kandeh K. Yumkella, Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO),
Mr Lennart Bage, President, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
Agenda
8th April 2008
14:00-15:30: Welcome & Plenary Address: The importance of agriculture in economic development
15:30-16:00: coffee break
16:00-17:30: Plenary panel: Challenges of agro-industries development
17:30-18:30: Regional Dialogue
________________________________________
9th April 2008:
9:00-10:30: 9:00-10:30: Forum Inauguration
- Address from his Excellency Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India
- Address from Mr Jacques Diouf, Director General of FAO
- Address from Mr Kandeh K. Yumkella, Director General of UNIDO
- Address from Mr Lennart Båge , President of IFAD
10:30-11:00: coffee break
11:00-12:30: Plenary Address 1 & 2
- Agro-industry trends, patterns and development impacts
- Enabling environment for competitive agro-industries
12:30-14:00: Lunch
14:00-15:30: Plenary Addresses 3 & 4
- Technologies shaping the future
- Business Models for small farmers and SME's
15:30-16:00: Coffee Break
16:00-17:30: Plenary Addresses 5 & 6
- Public-Private sector cooperation
- Global Citizenship and responsibility
10th April 2008:
9:00-10:30: Competitiveness Roundtables 1 to 3:
1.Understanding Markets: Market research and intelligence
2.Meeting Consumer Requirements: Quality, safety, emerging concerns
3.Improving Productivity: Technology acquisition and utilisation
10:30-11:00: Coffee Break
11:00-12:30: Competitiveness Roundtables 4 to 6:
4.Strengthening Business Linkages: Value chain development
5.Differentiating products: Branding and certification
6.Attracting Investment: agro-industries ans agro-enterprise finance
12:30-14:00: Lunch
14:00-15:30: Competitiveness Roundtables 7 to 9:
7.Staying Competitive: Innovation, product development, adaptation
8.Improving Efficiency: Agro-industries operations management
9.Organizing Smallholders: Producer organizations and cooperatives
15:30-16:00: Coffee Break
16:00-17:30: Competitiveness Roundtables 10 to 12:
10.Establishing Clusters: agro-industrial clusters and food parks
11.Reducing Costs: Infrastructure development
12.Human Resources Development
11th April 2008:
9:00-12:30: Regional Strategy Workshops
12:30-14:00: Lunch
14:00-15:30: Plenary panel- Regional perspectives
15:30-16:00: Coffee Break
16:00-18:00: Closing Ceremony
Organizers, Sponsors & Partners
The Global Agro-Industries Forum 2008 is co-organized by FAO, UNIDO, IFAD and the Government of India, which has offered to host this major international event.
The Forum co-organizers are partnering with International and Regional Financial Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations and Associations to ensure the highest level of participation and dissemination of information.
Newsroom
Latest press release:
India to Host First Global Agro-Industries Forum In 2008
A joint FAO/UNIDO & Government of India initiative
New Delhi, the 8th August, 2008
The first Global Agro-Industries Forum (GAIF) will be organised in New Delhi from 8 to 11 April 2008. The Union Minister of Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Shri Sharad Pawar and the Director General, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) , Dr Jacques Diouf jointly issued the first announcement of the conference in New Delhi this evening. The Indian government, FAO and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) are jointly organising the conference.
Shri Pawar described the organisation of the conference as a timely initiative and expressed hope that the role of agro-industries in enhancing productivity and profitability in agriculture, employment generation and poverty alleviation, especially in developing countries would receive requisite attention.
Dr Diouf, who is presently on a three-day visit to India, stated that hosting this global event in New Delhi is a testimony to India's central place in the world agricultural scenario and that it will further strengthen FAO's and UNIDO's engagement with the country.
A key challenge is to develop agro-industries and associated enterprises that are inclusive of smaller scale producers and processors and that also deliver better products at lower prices thus directly helping poor consumers.
While high-income countries add, on average, US$180 of value by processing one tonne of agricultural products, developing countries generate only US$40 of value per tonne.
"We are very pleased to be working alongside FAO and UNIDO to host this Global Forum in India", said Dr Mangala Rai, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research & Education and Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. "We are committed to supporting the development of competitive but fair agro-industries and look forward to discussing experiences and strategies with participants from around the world."
The Global Agro-Industries Forum will promote dialogue on strategies for developing competitive agro-industries that contribute to poverty reduction. It will thus build on success stories and winning strategies to develop competitive agro-industries in the developing world that include small-scale farmers and reinforce collaboration among all stakeholders from local to global levels, as well as public and private sectors.
"Rapid globalization, market liberalization, and urbanization have created new opportunities for increased trade in agricultural and food products in national, regional and international markets, but they have also created challenges and increased risks", explains Dr. Daniel Gustafson, FAO Representative in India.
The Global Forum will bring together 500 senior representatives from ministries of agriculture and of industries, other UN agencies, and civil society organizations as well as agro-industry specialists and private sector food industry leaders.
Following the Forum, FAO and UNIDO will launch a series of concrete actions at regional and national levels, including a series of regional agro-industry Fora, to strengthen expertise and capacity for establishing enabling policies, institutions and services, and will technically support the development of competitive agro-industries and value chains in conjunction with regional and national partners.
"The Forum is a concrete example of the partnership being established between UNIDO and FAO to address the key factors critical to the future of agro-industries development", notes Dr. Philippe Scholtès, UNIDO Representative in India.
Background information
Please find below background materials prepared by FAO, UNIDO and IFAD on issues tackled by the Forum
Background materials for Plenary sessions :
8 April 2008 : First plenary session
1.Agro-industry trends, patterns and developmental impacts
2. enabling environments for competitive agro-industries
9 april: Second plenary session
1. Technologies shaping the future
2. Business models for small farmers and SMEs:
Please download an FAO-AGS working document on Approaches to linking producers to markets.
10 April 2008: third plenary session
1. Public-private sector cooperation
To download an FAO-AGS presentation of public-private sector partnerships, please Click here.
2. Global citizenship and responsibility
Background materials for competitiveness roundtables
1. Understanding markets: market research and intelligence
Please download the FAO Guide for Market research for agroprocessors
2. Meeting consumer requirements: quality, safety, emerging concerns
3. Improving productivity: technology acquisition and utilisation
4. Strengthening business linkages: value chain development
FAO/AGS has developed two publications on contract farming, which can be downloaded from here and from here
5. Differentiating products: branding and certification
To download an FAO-AGS publication on "Organic certification schemes:
managerial skills and associated costs", please Click here
6. Attracting Investment: agro-industry and agro-enterprise finance
To access to the Rural Finance learning centre, please Click here
Please download the IFAD case studies on emerging lessons in agricultural microfinance.
7. Staying competitive: innovation, product developement, adaptation
8. Improving efficiency: agro-industries operations management
Please download an FAO-AGS working document on Business management for small scale agro-processors
9. Organizing smallholders: producers organizations and co-operatives
10. Establishing clusters: agro-industrial clusters and food parks
An FAO-AGS working document on Agro-industrial parks: experiences from India is available
11. Reducing costs: infrastructure development
12. Human resources development
Background material for the regional strategy workshops
Africa
Asia and the Pacific:
FAO-AGS has developed studies on Agro-Industries characterization and appraisal in India for 2 product types soya beans and dairy products.
Eastern Europe and Central Asia:
Latin America and the Carribean:
FAO-AGS has prepared a study on agro-industries characterization and appraisal in Peru for Asparagus.
Near East:
Contact details
For information on the programme and practical information, please contact the Forum Secretariat at FAO:
GAIF Secretariat
Global Agro-Industries Forum 2008
Rural Infrastructure and Agro-Industries Division
FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
00153, Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 570 53 193 Fax : +39 06 570 54 960
e-mail: gaif08@fao.org
http://www.fao.org/ag/ags/index.html
UNIDO:
Wagramerstr, 5 - P.O Box 300, A-1400 Vienna, Austria
Tel: + 43 1260265109 Fax: +43 1260266849
e-mail: gaif08@unido.org
http://www.unido.org
Government of India:
Anil K Upadhyay
Additional Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research & Education
& Secretary, Indian Council of Agricultural Research
Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi-110001, India
Phone: ++ (91) 11 23384450
Fax: ++ (91) 11 23387705
Email: secy.icar@nic.in
IFAD:
Mr. René Fréchet,
Senior Technical Adviser Market Access & Rural Enterprise Development,
Technical Advisory Division,
IFAD HQ - Via del Serafico, 107.
www.ifad.org