TECHNOLOGY FAIR OF FUTURE TO TAKE PLACE IN SAO PAULO, 14 – 18 JUNE

Technology Fair of Future to take place in Sao Paulo, 14 – 18 June

Promising New Technologies for Developing World

(Reissued as received.)

Vienna, 7 April (UNIDO) -- Innovative enterprises, top business leaders, technology parks, research and development institutes and institutions for innovation support, as well as high-level government representatives from both industrialized and emerging economies, will be participating in the Technology Fair of the Future in São Paulo, Brazil, between 14 and 18 June 2004.

Organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Technology Fair of the Future is a side-event of the eleventh general conference of UNCTAD, which will draw together some 3,000 participants from all over the world.

The fair aims to offer participants the opportunity to present new ideas, designs, concepts, future products and markets, as well as insight visions in their fields of specialization.  It will also be an occasion to forge partnerships, linkages, strategic alliances and joint ventures for improved access to markets.

Selected technology sectors, such as energy, biotechnology, nano-technology, materials, aerospace, information and communication, will be the focus of the fair.  Also represented will be some technology sub-sectors vital for low-income and least developed countries:  renewable energy, agro-food processing, medicines and building materials.

The Technology Fair of the Future is to be held at the Anhembi Convention and Exhibition Centre where, at the same time, the FISPAL Twentieth International Food Fair, Latin America’s leading food products fair, will take place.  Other events held in parallel are the EMPRETEC/SEBRAE Business Fair, the WAIPA Investment Forum and Fair Brazil Invest, the ITC Competitiveness Tools Fair and the NGOs Solidarity Market Fair.

More information on the fair is available at www.unido.org/2004fairfuture.  The online application form can be found at www.unidoform.org.

Note for Editors

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that focuses its efforts on relieving poverty by fostering productivity growth.  It helps developing countries and countries with economies in transition in their fight against marginalization in today’s globalized world.  It mobilizes knowledge, skills, information and technology to promote productive employment, a competitive economy and a sound environment.  For more information, please visit www.unido.org.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is the United Nations focal point for development issues in the fields of trade, finance, investment and technology.  Its general conference, held every four years, is UNCTAD’s highest governing body, which sets the organization’s priorities and guidelines for action.  It also includes a high-level debate on current issues involving economics and development.  Further information is available at www.unctad.org.

For more information on UNIDO, please contact:  Cristina Stricker, UNIDO Information Officer, tel.: +43-1-26026-3034, e-mail: c.stricker@unido.org.  For further technical information on the Technology Fair and Technology Foresight, contact:  Ricardo Seidl da Fonseca, UNIDO Programme Manager, tel.: +43-1-26026-3737, fax: +43-1-26026-6808, e-mail: R.Seidl-da-Fonseca@unido.org; or Elena Paleo-Cornejo, UNIDO Programme Assistant, tel.: +43-1-26026-3434, e-mail: E.Paleo-Cornejo@unido.org.

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