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Leaders Demonstrate Interdependence Between Trade and Peace at WTCA Conference in Oslo
NEW YORK-(Business Wire)-May 3, 2007 - The relationship and interdependence between trade and peace is evident but often overlooked according to leaders at The Oslo Conference on Peace and Trade jointly organized by the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), a leading international, non-political, not-for-profit membership organization, World Trade Center Oslo and The City of Oslo.
The conference, held at Oslo City Hall on April 20th, included speakers Jan Egeland, Under Secretary General and Special Envoy for the United Nations Secretary-General; Kjell Magne Bondevik, President of the Oslo Centre for Peace and Human Rights; Vijay Kalantri, Director of World Trade Center Mumbai; Aziz Sadat, President of the World Trade Center Kabul, Afghanistan; Dan Griswold, Director, Center for Trade Policy Studies at the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C.; and Havard Hegre, Researcher at the International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO).
Under the WTCA's banner of "peace and stability through trade" in Oslo's City Hall, the location where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded, business leaders and decision makers came together to discuss the relationship between business and peace and the opportunities to promoting peace and reconciliation through trade.
"Policy makers need to understand that trade is about more than the economic benefits. It is about fostering democracy, human rights and peace," said Daniel Griswold, Director, Center for Trade Policy Studies at the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C.
"Relationship is about reciprocity and interdependence between people. It is about drawing people together, making people feel that they matter and creating trust irrespective of the color of your skin, the language of your tongue or the culture to which you belong," said Per L. Saxegaard, Chairman of WTCA Oslo, in his welcome speech. "The importance of these relationship ties is often overlooked - not only by the politicians fighting for the interest of the groups they represent, but also by the business community itself. It is the cumulative strength of all these ties around the world that represents the main connection between business and peace."
Within the WTCA membership there are cities working in constructive cooperation with each other in spite of national issues that could impede cooperation including Tel Aviv and Ramallah; Seoul and Pyongyang; Beijing and Taipei; and Karachi and Mumbai.
"The WTCA has made a special effort to assist and support the economic development of the world's poorest regions. The antidote for poverty and hopelessness is economic development, and real economic development in this highly competitive world means effective world trade," said Guy Tozzoli, President, WTCA. "One of the strongest unifying forces within the WTCA is the idea of mutual assistance. The WTCA has worked constantly to maximize the potential of its unique global structure by developing global programs to assist traders everywhere."
About World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)
The World Trade Centers Association is an expanding not-for-profit, non-political membership organization consisting of over 300 member World Trade Centers servicing more than 750,000 businesses in 85 countries. Founded in 1970 and headquartered in New York City, its mission is to support the establishment and successful operation of individual World Trade Centers as part of an extensive worldwide network to enhance trade, promote economic development and foster peace. World Trade Centers stimulate their regional economies through trade and business leads, research information, online and e-commerce services, accredited trade education programs and the power of reciprocity throughout the extensive WTCA network. Please visit the WTCA web site, www.wtca.org, for more information.
