17 October -14.00
Session 1: Driving Sustainable Economic Recovery

With growing pressure on commodity prices, macroeconomic trends affecting purchasing power, and labour markets still struggling to provide jobs for all Europeans, what is the role of Europe’s food and drink industry in fuelling a sustainable recovery?

Join session 1 of FoodDrinkEurope’s 2012 Congress ‘Feeding the Recovery’ for a lively discussion of how Europe’s food and drink industry can help drive sustainable economic recovery.

International journalist and broadcaster David Eades (BBC) will moderate the discussion between expert speakers and panellists including:

• European Commissioner for Trade, Karel De Gucht
• Deputy Director General of the WTO, Rufus Yerxa
• OECD Directorate for Agriculture and Trade, Wayne Jones
• Minister Counsellor on food and agriculture for the U.S. Mission to the EU, Maurice House
• Managing Director, Henri van de Bilt Vleeswaren, Frans Egberts
• CEO Europe, Diageo Plc., representing the European Spirits Organisation – CEPS, Andrew Morgan

Topics for debate include:

• What are the global megatrends affecting Europe’s food sector? 
• How can Europe build on the export-driven success its food and drink industry has experienced over the last few years? 
• How are trade, innovation and security of supply of agricultural raw materials affecting the business climate in Europe?
• How has the current rise in the price of commodities and its impact on the global food supply chain affected Europe? 
• What are the needs of Europe’s SMEs in terms of access to finance, export opportunities, etc.? How can the Europe’s policy-makers help? 
• What are the barriers to continued sustainable, export-driven growth, and how can they be overcome?

[1]Register for early bird fee before 24 September [1]

Download the latest speaker programme [2]

[3]Check out the Congress website for more information [3]