Washington, D.C., USA - The Canadian Private Sector Liaison Officer (PSLO) Network of the World Bank has issued an invitation to Canadian businesses to participate in a Sustainable Development Mission to Washington, D.C., February 7th -8th, 2007, involving the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.

This mission will focus on Sustainable Development: A Look at Projects in Environment, Tourism, Natural Disaster Prevention, Sanitation, Rural Development and Agriculture at both Banks at their headquarters in Washington, DC.

Topics will include:

• Pollution control and waste management
• Sustainable development
• Land titling and registration
• Agricultural support services including plant and animal health, food safety and agricultural research
• Financing of agribusinesses through the Inter-American Investment Corporation and the Multilateral Investment Fund
• Coastal zone and watershed management
• Potable water
• Emergency response programs for natural disasters
• Institutional strengthening and training
• Impact assessments, mitigation activities and studies.

Who should attend?

• Consulting firms, individual consultants, universities, think tanks, and NGOs
• Equipment manufacturers
• Goods suppliers
• Works & construction contractors
• Prospective sponsors of IDB private sector projects

Why attend?

• To learn what types of projects the IDB is financing in the sectors of your interest
• To identify opportunities to market your company’s products and services
• To discover how projects are initiated and developed
• To find out how your firm can stay in the loop for future projects
• To learn about the IDB’s procurement procedures

This is a great opportunity for your firm to network with other Canadian firms who are interested in further developing opportunities and international projects with the International Financial Institutions.

Objectives of the Mission

• To initiate dialogue between Canadian Firms and the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank officers responsible for Sustainable Development projects.
• Create a high level of awareness on the part of the Canadian firms of the project requirements and constraints, and their level of competitiveness in accessing bank projects and bank-financed projects and programs in the areas of Sustainable Development.
• Inform World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank staff of the capabilities and interests of Canadian firms in the sectors of agriculture, environment, tourism and sustainable development.
• Initiate and maintain working relations with representatives of the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank.

The cost of the Sustainable Development Mission will be C$300. Registration includes the participant fee to the Inter-American Development Bank Seminar on Sustainable Development, as well as Lunch on Wednesday and Thursday.

A list of provincial contacts and registration details can be found here (PDF).