Launch of IOE Business Coalition to strengthen dialogue with WTO

High-level launch of the IOE Business Coalition on 1 December 2021.

Did you miss the launch of the Coalition? Watch it now!

Despite the postponement of the 12th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference, IOE launched the Business Coalition for Trade, Employment & Sustainable Development at a virtual high-level event on 1 December 2021 at 12:30 (CET).

The experts and leaders taking part include IOE President Michele Parmelee; WTO Deputy Director-General Angela Ellard; International Chambers of Commerce First Vice-Chair María Fernanda Garza; Executive Secretary of the Brazilian Ministry of Labour and Welfare Bruno Dalcolmo; Ugandan State Minister for Cooperatives, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Frederick Ngobi Gume; BusinessEurope Director General Markus Beyrer. Video message was also featured from the Chair of the B20 Indonesia Shinta Kamdani.

The Business Coalition aims to promote and coordinate the efforts of Employer and Business Membership Organisations (EBMO) and companies, of all sizes and characters, to support employment growth and sustainable development through trade that is underpinned by the multilateral rules, as well as to strengthen dialogue between business and the WTO and other international trade organisations.

Concretely, it aims to:

• Strengthen and coordinate the efforts of EBMOs of all sizes and characters, as well as companies, to support trade integration as a way to create and retain employment and promote sustainable development.
• Engage constructively and pro-actively in the WTO reform process to strengthen this employment angle in trade developments.
• Build the capability of EBMOs and companies on trade and employment-related matters.
• Exchange between members' ideas and knowledge on trade-related matters and their impact on employment and sustainable development.
• Facilitate ongoing and regular dialogue between WTO/other international trade organisations and business with this approach.
• Inform business of latest trade-related economic developments with an impact on employment.

For more background information on how this initiative emerged, please find in the "Resources" section a report from our 2021 General Council, where WTO Director-General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was a keynote speaker.