Culemborg – The excitement is building as preparations are underway for the highly anticipated 17th International Fair Trade Summit, organised by the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO).
This biannual event is scheduled to take place in the vibrant city of Cape Town, South Africa, from September 17th to 20th, 2024. The International Fair Trade Summit is a premier gathering for leaders, practitioners, entrepreneurs, advocates, and supporters of Fair Trade from all corners of the globe. This event serves as a platform for collaboration, innovation, and dialogue aimed at advancing Fair Trade Enterprises’ practices and principles.
“We are delighted to announce the upcoming International Fair Trade Summit,” said Leida Rijnhout, WFTO Chief Executive. “This event represents a pivotal moment for the global Fair Trade community to come together, share insights, and let the world know that Fair Trade Enterprises are a huge leverage for sustainable production and consumption models, and to build inclusive economies.”
The summit will feature engaging speakers, interactive panel discussions, and insightful workshops centred around key themes such as the future of Fair Trade (Enterprises) for “Market Visibility”, “Future-Proof Fashion,” “Engaging the Next Generation,” “Donut Economics,” and ” System Change Approach.” Such an event is also geared to facilitate connection, networking, and collaboration to amplify the voices and strengths of SMEs and the sustainability movement. There is also space for WFTO members to discuss some internal matters to strengthen our movement.
For South African businesses, the summit offers unparalleled opportunities to delve into the world of Fair Trade and sustainable businesses. Attendees will have the chance to gain invaluable knowledge about Fair Trade practices and connect with numerous like-minded local and global businesses that will land in Cape Town. This will allow understanding firsthand how Fair Trade can benefit local communities and economies. Additionally, the event provides a platform to forge new connections and partnerships with international Fair Trade Enterprises, opening doors to global markets and opportunities for collaboration. South African businesses can showcase their products on a global stage, attracting potential buyers and distributors from around the world.
Moreover, participants will have access to a market expo, where they can participate, and view products showcased by various WFTO members in diverse product categories. The summit also offers tailored content through conference sessions specifically designed for nonmembers, providing practical insights and strategies for integrating Fair Trade principles into local business operations. Regardless of membership status, all are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Whether you’re a seasoned Fair Trade advocate or new to the concept, there’s something for everyone at the summit.
The International Fair Trade Summit aims to achieve tangible outcomes, including:
• Sharing information, knowledge, and experience between members and the wider movement while exploring new market opportunities.
• Discussing strategies and concrete measures on how the Fair Trade movement can tackle the triple planetary crisis and connecting with other civil society networks to advocate for change.
• Actively focusing on forming partnerships, alliances, and planning for future collaborative work with like-minded partners, building awareness about the inspiring enterprise models of WFTO members to drive a transformation of the global economy.
”This gathering of like-minded people from all over the world creates unique opportunities to learn, learn from each other, inspire and be inspired, and make the connections we value so much,” said Pieter Swart, Director of Turqle Trading, a WFTO-Guaranteed Fair Trade Enterprise and co-host of the summit.
Join us at the International Fair Trade Summit as we work together towards a just and sustainable global economy.
For more information and to register for the summit, visit: https://wfto.com/events/international-fair-trade-summit-2024/
The summit venue will take place at: Century City Conference Centre, 4 Energy Ln, Century City, Cape Town, 7446, South Africa
About the World Fair Trade Organization
The World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) serves as the global community and verifier of enterprises committed to practising the 10 Fair Trade Principles. With a membership of visionary small and medium-sized enterprises spanning diverse sectors, we advocate for an equitable and sustainable world. We believe that an alternative way of doing business is possible. And we don’t simply believe that: we are seeing purpose-driven entrepreneurs and activists doing it every day.
In 35 years of operation and with a network of more than 420 organisations, WFTO has impacted over 1 million livelihoods across 81 countries. Our organisation works to support Fair Trade Enterprises to change the economy, globally. WFTO members are pioneers with a clear vision of what the economy should look like, one where profit-making does not come before the well-being of the people and the planet. They significantly differ from conventional profitmaximising models by embracing a triple bottom line that encompasses the well-being of people, the preservation of the planet, and the pursuit of sustainable profit.
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