Major Group: Workers & Trade
Mr. Chair,
Switzerland likes to refer to the policy options of the Chairman?s draft negotiating document.
? Political and macroeconomic stability has to be in place before issues as capabilities to
comply with quality standards have to become relevant. Property rights ? particularly
intellectual ones ? have to be guaranteed.
? Economic development requires diversification, less concentration, not specialization in
few or even only one industrial activities. Countries have to try to be engaged in a broad
range of economic activities.
? Because of the rapid decline in transportation costs in the last decades, goods are not
necessarily produced anymore close to its consumers. This gave the developing countries
? with their relatively lower labour costs - the opportunity to be more stronger engaged
in labor-intensive production. Labor-intensive industrial development is essential to
reduce poverty reduction and takes into account comparative advantages of developing
countries.
? Good transportation infrastructure is key for developing countries to be competitive.
Products have to come rapidly to the destination point, unnecessary stops and transshipments
have to be avoided.
? Continuous innovation, high levels skills, an efficient communications and transport
infrastructure are also essential factors for successful industrial development. Companies
need to be fast imitators and this is based on its technological capabilities and new forms
of business organization (logistics, marketing, organization, production and distribution
systems).
? We have to strive for a reduction of the amount of energy used per unit in the production
of goods and services which contributes both to alleviation of environment stress and to
greater economic and industrial productivity. Another win-win policy option should be
mentioned in the outcome document: through a better use of waste - to make it recyclable
and reusable ? economic benefits and less environmental degradation can be achieved.
? Industrialized countries have to take the lead ? according to Chapter 4 of the Agenda 21
and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation - to change unsustainable consumption
and production patterns. This is being taken up by the Marrakech process and its Task
Forces. CSD-15 should strengthen this important work and promote eco-labeling criteria
that take into account life-cycle-thinking.
? Industry support institutions such as the UNIDO/UNEP cleaner production centers play
an important role in enterprise?s efforts to adopt sustainable productions practices and
therefore should be mentioned in the negotiating text.
? One of the most promising instruments for the implementation of Sustainable Consumption
and Production is Sustainable Public Procurement. By applying environmental and
social criteria to filter and prioritise tenders, authorities send clear signals to the market
that products and suppliers that are sustainable will achieve a competitive advantage.
? Initiatives for Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility and Accountability like
the UN Global Compact should be promoted. Through the Global Compact companies
are asked to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of core
values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment, and anticorruption.
Thank you, Mr. Chair
Switzerland likes to refer to the policy options of the Chairman?s draft negotiating document.
? Political and macroeconomic stability has to be in place before issues as capabilities to
comply with quality standards have to become relevant. Property rights ? particularly
intellectual ones ? have to be guaranteed.
? Economic development requires diversification, less concentration, not specialization in
few or even only one industrial activities. Countries have to try to be engaged in a broad
range of economic activities.
? Because of the rapid decline in transportation costs in the last decades, goods are not
necessarily produced anymore close to its consumers. This gave the developing countries
? with their relatively lower labour costs - the opportunity to be more stronger engaged
in labor-intensive production. Labor-intensive industrial development is essential to
reduce poverty reduction and takes into account comparative advantages of developing
countries.
? Good transportation infrastructure is key for developing countries to be competitive.
Products have to come rapidly to the destination point, unnecessary stops and transshipments
have to be avoided.
? Continuous innovation, high levels skills, an efficient communications and transport
infrastructure are also essential factors for successful industrial development. Companies
need to be fast imitators and this is based on its technological capabilities and new forms
of business organization (logistics, marketing, organization, production and distribution
systems).
? We have to strive for a reduction of the amount of energy used per unit in the production
of goods and services which contributes both to alleviation of environment stress and to
greater economic and industrial productivity. Another win-win policy option should be
mentioned in the outcome document: through a better use of waste - to make it recyclable
and reusable ? economic benefits and less environmental degradation can be achieved.
? Industrialized countries have to take the lead ? according to Chapter 4 of the Agenda 21
and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation - to change unsustainable consumption
and production patterns. This is being taken up by the Marrakech process and its Task
Forces. CSD-15 should strengthen this important work and promote eco-labeling criteria
that take into account life-cycle-thinking.
? Industry support institutions such as the UNIDO/UNEP cleaner production centers play
an important role in enterprise?s efforts to adopt sustainable productions practices and
therefore should be mentioned in the negotiating text.
? One of the most promising instruments for the implementation of Sustainable Consumption
and Production is Sustainable Public Procurement. By applying environmental and
social criteria to filter and prioritise tenders, authorities send clear signals to the market
that products and suppliers that are sustainable will achieve a competitive advantage.
? Initiatives for Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility and Accountability like
the UN Global Compact should be promoted. Through the Global Compact companies
are asked to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of core
values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment, and anticorruption.
Thank you, Mr. Chair