ILO/96/34

GENEVA (ILO News) B The International Labour Organization (ILO) is, for the first time, organizing a global forum that will link representatives of workers' and employers' organizations, government leaders and enterprise executives in the search for new economic development and job creation strategies.

The A ILO Enterprise Forum 1996 , organized with the theme of A Promoting Social progress and enterprise competitiveness in a global economy , will be held on 8-9 November at the ILO's Geneva headquarters.

During two days of talks, the ILO's traditional social partners and representatives of the private sector, entrepreneurs and executives of large- and small-scale enterprises will seek new ways of creating jobs, developing human resources and improving working conditions and labour-management relations.

Mr. Michel Hansenne, Director-General of the ILO, is to open the meeting and heads a list of speakers that includes over 50 officials (ministers, entrepreneurs and enterprise leaders, CEOs, leaders of workers' and employers' organizations, and representatives of the United Nations, World Bank, IMF and WTO). Other keynote speakers include Mr. J.P. Ma T tre, Conseiller d'Etat, Chef du D J partement de l' J conomie publique de Gen P ve speaking on A Geneva and enterprises and Mr. Claude Smadja, Managing Director, World Economic Forum, speaking on A Globalization and enterprises: Playing the winner-takes-all game.

Following the opening plenary on Friday, panel discussions will be held on implications for enterprises and the ILO of a changing world economy; enterprises and jobs; social initiatives by enterprises; and the future of the social partners at the enterprise level. In parallel sessions on Saturday, participants will discuss entrepreneurship and job creation for women; new business paradigms; and small enterprise development for the creation of productive jobs.

Documents

A detailed agenda and list of participants will be available to the media as of Tuesday, 5 November. A comprehensive press release will be issued in advance of the Forum, on Thursday 7 November, for use on or after Friday 8 November. Texts of speeches, including the keynote addresses will be made available on Friday, 8 November (to be checked against delivery). Other addresses or texts, as received, will be available in a marked area outside the Governing Body Room.

Meeting venue and interviews

Interested media are welcome to attend the opening Plenary in the ILO Governing Body Room (level R3), and the Panel Discussions in Rooms II, III, IV and V (level R3). No special accreditation is required. Interviews with principals and participants may be obtained by contacting the ILO Press Office (+41.22) 799.7940 or sending a fax to (+41.22) 788.3894.