A Presentation of the Conclusions and an Assessment of the Congress |
Now that the International Congress on Commerce and Rural Developmentí has concluded, we would like to provide all those who are interested with the information available regarding the events of the two working days. The different interventions of the experts took place during this time and these are reported in the final Programme.
In this way, the intention of the Committee organising the Congress is to circulate as widely and quickly as possible the aspects of the above-mentioned act. These aspects relate to the contents discussed as well as the principal results and objectives obtained within the Congress by the experts and the remainder of the participants.
During the congress, 40 experts intervened and there were around 200 participants, coming from 26 countries in the five continents. With regard to the participants at the Congress, it should be pointed out that they came from a variety of areas: from social agents, agents relating to a particular sector, economic agents, research centres, public organisations, including representatives from the European Commission and the European Parliament.
The fact that the Declaration of Vitoria-Gasteiz has been supported by 12 international organisations (amongst which FAO, UNCTAD ), several NGOís (Pax Romana, Solagral, Intermón, Greenpeace ), Associations for Rural Development, Agricultural Co-operatives and Union, governmental authorities, Universities and other Research Centres makes the Congress a complete success.
With regard to this, the Organising Committee has directly interpreted the opinions of numerous experts and other participants, as well as a survey carried out among those attending. For this reason, it has been considered that in the general interest it would be appropriate to circulate the results of the assessment survey on the various aspects of the Congress so that those people and organisations that were unable to participate directly may form an opinion of the act as a whole.
Aspect |
% of the TOTAL of those surveyed who consider that at least their expectations have been covered |
of the TOTAL of those surveyed who rate as Good or Very Good (exceeds their expectations |
| Objectives | 98% |
80% |
| Methodology | 95% |
55% |
| Programme | 95% |
70% |
| Experts | 96% |
77% |
| Representation | 86% |
59% |
| Works Presentation | 92% |
59% |
| Workshop I | 90% |
55% |
| Workshop II | 74% |
35% |
| Workshop III | 68% |
36% |
Number of surveys: 95 |
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Finally, it is necessary to emphasise the opinion and predisposition shown by the participants to continue the work initiated during the Congress. From the Organising Committee, we would like to transmit to all those interested and who were unable to be present, the intention to promote a permanent mechanism for meetings and discussions This involves a serious and multidisciplinary reflection on the effects of a freer commerce and a more global economy on the development of agricultural activity and the rural area. We cannot forget that the initiative set in motion does not finalise with the Congress itself but, on the contrary, this Congress is a privileged point of encounter to forge new links and to consolidate projects to strengthen them and guarantee their continuity over a period of time.
This Web page will inform you of future advances made in this respect and your opinions and suggestions shall be requested on any of the contents.
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