Conference: Global Value Chains, Business and Development

Date: December 9, 2008 - 8:30-16:30
Venue: University of Copenhagen, Department of Geography and Geology.

The overall purpose of the conference was to provide a platform for dialogue between development researchers, private firms operating in developing countries, and development staff with the view to exchanging information on results, ongoing initiatives and tools related to the themes of the conference:

1) Private sector development, public and private governance in trade, development intervention
2) Global Value Chains, development and upgrading
3) Global Value Chains, standards, Corporate Social Responsibility

70 participants [pdf, 41kB] attended the conference, which included a series of presentations and many lively discussions.

Conference report [pdf, 178 kB].

Presentations:
Welcome and outline of objectives [pdf, 763kB]. By Olav Jull Sørensen, deputy chariman of DDRN
Session 1: Emerging issues and international trends
How should development countries engage in the global economy? [pdf, 185kB] By Raphael Kaplinsky, Open University London
Global Value Chains (GVC) and poverty [pdf, 645kB]. By Jonathan Mitchell, Overseas Development Institute
Danish research in GVC, business and development [pdf, 96kB]. By Alex Werth, Nordic Consulting Group
Session 2: Challenges and consequences of the integration in the global economy for developing countries
Facilitating investments in African Business [pdf, 1.023kB]. By Ina Pontoppidan, MyC4 A/S
Making the best of value chain participation in Africa [pdf, 37kB]. By Stefano Ponte, Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS)
Impact of GVC on livelihoods [pdf, 386kB]. By Niels Fold, University of Copenhagen
Strategies and choices for firms [pdf, 52kB]. By Olav Jull Sørensen, Aalborg University
Session 3: Ensuring sustainable economic growth in developing countries
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Global Value Chains - integrating environmental, social and labour indicators [pdf, 1.061kB]. By Arne Wangel, Centre for Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, DTU Management
How investments may contribute to sustainable growth [pdf, 840kB]. By Birgitte Bang Nielsen, Industrialisation Fund for Developing Countries
Education programme in Ghana [pdf, 623kB]. By Mette Andersen, Toms Group
Potentials and challenges of sustainable growth in light of experiences from the B2B Programme [pdf, 205kB]. By Janne Laigaard Schneider, Danida

Poster Presentation: Opportunities and Constraints for Solar Drying of Organic Fruits in Uganda [pdf, 332kB], by Nina Kirkegaard, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Life Sciences

For further information, please read the concept note and programme [pdf, 88kB] and the programme with profiles of the speakers [pdf, 61kB].