Sustainability indicators for environmental management and decision making

The general objective of this research is to explore theories and methodologies of sustainability indicators, environmental management and decision making disciplines with the operational purpose of producing scientific, robust and relevant information for supporting system understanding and decision making in real case studies. Several tools have been applied in order to increase the understanding of socio-ecological systems as well as providing relevant information on the choice between alternatives. These tools have always been applied having in mind the complexity of the issues and the uncertainty tied to the partial knowledge of the systems under study. Two case studies with specific application to performances measurement (environmental performances in the case of the K8 approach and sustainable development performances in the case of the EU Sustainable Development Strategy) and a case study about the selection of sustainable development indicators amongst Municipalities in Scotland, are discussed in the first part of the work. In the second part of the work, the common denominator among subjects consists in the application of spatial indices and indicators to address operational problems in land use management within the territory of the Ravenna province (Italy). The main conclusion of the thesis is that a ‘perfect’ methodological approach which always produces the best results in assessing sustainability performances does not exist. Rather, there is a pool of correct approaches answering different evaluation questions, to be used when methodologies fit the purpose of the analysis. For this reason, methodological limits and conceptual assumptions as well as consistency and transparency of the assessment, become the key factors for assessing the quality of the analysis.

Lake Ladoga: Water Resources for the Sustainable Development of North-Western Russia and Finland

The aim of this project was to evaluate the present state and possible changes of water resources in Lake Ladoga and its drainage basin for the purposes of the sustainable development of North-Western Russia and Finland. The group assessed the state of the water resources in quantitative and qualitative terms, taking the system of sustainable development indicators suggested by the International Commission on Sustainable Development as a basis for assessment. These include pressure indicators (annual withdrawals of ground and surface water, domestic consumption of water per capita), state indicators (ground water reserves, concentration of faecalcoliform in fresh water, biochemical oxygen demand), and response indicators (waste-water treatment coverage, density of hydrological networks). The group proposed the following additional indicators and indices for the complex evaluation of the qualitative and quantitative state of the region's water resources: * Pressure indicators (external load, coefficient of anthropogenic pressure) * State indicators and indices (concentrations of chemicals in water, concentrations of chemicals in sediments, index of water pollution, critical load, critical limit, internal load, load/critical load, concentration/critical limit, internal load/external load, trophic state, biotic indicators and indices) * Response indicators (discharges of pure water, polluted water, partly treated water and the ratio between these, trans-boundary fluxes of pollutants, state expenditure on environmental protection, human life span) The assessment considered both temporal and spatial aspects and produced a regional classification of the area according to the index of water pollution. Mathematical models were developed to describe and forecast the processes under way in the lake and can be used to estimate the influence of climatic changes on the hydrological regime, as well as the influence of anthropogenic load on the trophic state of Lake Ladoga and to assess the consequences of accidental discharges of polluting admixtures of different kinds into the lake. The results of this mathematical modelling may be of use to decision-makers responsible for the management of water resources.

Micro-family-owned business : transitory survival mechanism or long term wealth creator?

Principal Topic: Entrepreneurship is key to employment, innovation and growth (Acs & Mueller, 2008), and as such, has been the subject of tremendous research in both the economic and management literatures since Solow (1957), Schumpeter (1934, 1943), and Penrose (1959). The presence of entrepreneurs in the economy is a key factor in the success or failure of countries to grow (Audretsch and Thurik, 2001; Dejardin, 2001). Further studies focus on the conditions of existence of entrepreneurship, influential factors invoked are historical, cultural, social, institutional, or purely economic (North, 1997; Thurik 1996 & 1999). Of particular interest, beyond the reasons behind the existence of entrepreneurship, are entrepreneurial survival and good ''performance'' factors. Using cross-country firm data analysis, La Porta & Schleifer (2008) confirm that informal micro-businesses provide on average half of all economic activity in developing countries. They find that these are utterly unproductive compared to formal firms, and conclude that the informal sector serves as a social security net ''keep[ing] millions of people alive, but disappearing over time'' (abstract). Robison (1986), Hill (1996, 1997) posit that the Indonesian government under Suharto always pointed to the lack of indigenous entrepreneurship , thereby motivating the nationalisation of all industries. Furthermore, the same literature also points to the fact that small businesses were mostly left out of development programmes because they were supposed less productive and having less productivity potential than larger ones. Vial (2008) challenges this view and shows that small firms represent about 70% of firms, 12% of total output, but contribute to 25% of total factor productivity growth on average over the period 1975-94 in the industrial sector (Table 10, p.316). ---------- Methodology/Key Propositions: A review of the empirical literature points at several under-researched questions. Firstly, we assess whether there is, evidence of small family-business entrepreneurship in Indonesia. Secondly, we examine and present the characteristics of these enterprises, along with the size of the sector, and its dynamics. Thirdly, we study whether these enterprises underperform compared to the larger scale industrial sector, as it is suggested in the literature. We reconsider performance measurements for micro-family owned businesses. We suggest that, beside productivity measures, performance could be appraised by both the survival probability of the firm, and by the amount of household assets formation. We compare micro-family-owned and larger industrial firms' survival probabilities after the 1997 crisis, their capital productivity, then compare household assets of families involved in business with those who do not. Finally, we examine human and social capital as moderators of enterprises' performance. In particular, we assess whether a higher level of education and community participation have an effect on the likelihood of running a family business, and whether it has an impact on households' assets level. We use the IFLS database compiled and published by RAND Corporation. The data is a rich community, households, and individuals panel dataset in four waves: 1993, 1997, 2000, 2007. We now focus on the waves 1997 and 2000 in order to investigate entrepreneurship behaviours in turbulent times, i.e. the 1997 Asian crisis. We use aggregate individual data, and focus on households data in order to study micro-family-owned businesses. IFLS data covers roughly 7,600 households in 1997 and over 10,000 households in 2000, with about 95% of 1997 households re-interviewed in 2000. Households were interviewed in 13 of the 27 provinces as defined before 2001. Those 13 provinces were targeted because accounting for 83% of the population. A full description of the data is provided in Frankenberg and Thomas (2000), and Strauss et alii (2004). We deflate all monetary values in Rupiah with the World Development Indicators Consumer Price Index base 100 in 2000. ---------- Results and Implications: We find that in Indonesia, entrepreneurship is widespread and two thirds of households hold one or several family businesses. In rural areas, in 2000, 75% of households run one or several businesses. The proportion of households holding both a farm and a non farm business is higher in rural areas, underlining the reliance of rural households on self-employment, especially after the crisis. Those businesses come in various sizes from very small to larger ones. The median business production value represents less than the annual national minimum wage. Figures show that at least 75% of farm businesses produce less than the annual minimum wage, with non farm businesses being more numerous to produce the minimum wage. However, this is only one part of the story, as production is not the only ''output'' or effect of the business. We show that the survival rate of those businesses ranks between 70 and 82% after the 1997 crisis, which contrasts with the 67% survival rate for the formal industrial sector (Ter Wengel & Rodriguez, 2006). Micro Family Owned Businesses might be relatively small in terms of production, they also provide stability in times of crisis. For those businesses that provide business assets figures, we show that capital productivity is fairly high, with rates that are ten times higher for non farm businesses. Results show that households running a business have larger family assets, and households are better off in urban areas. We run a panel logit model in order to test the effect of human and social capital on the existence of businesses among households. We find that non farm businesses are more likely to appear in households with higher human and social capital situated in urban areas. Farm businesses are more likely to appear in lower human capital and rural contexts, while still being supported by community participation. The estimation of our panel data model confirm that households are more likely to have higher family assets if situated in urban area, the higher the education level, the larger the assets, and running a business increase the likelihood of having larger assets. This is especially true for non farm businesses that have a clearly larger and more significant effect on assets than farm businesses. Finally, social capital in the form of community participation also has a positive effect on assets. Those results confirm the existence of a strong entrepreneurship culture among Indonesian households. Investigating survival rates also shows that those businesses are quite stable, even in the face of a violent crisis such as the 1997 one, and as a result, can provide a safety net. Finally, considering household assets - the returns of business to the household, rather than profit or productivity - the returns of business to itself, shows that households running a business are better off. While we demonstrate that uman and social capital are key to business existence, survival and performance, those results open avenues for further research regarding the factors that could hamper growth of those businesses in terms of output and employment.

The mobile phone : the new communication drum of Papua New Guinea

This thesis examines the role of mobile telephony in rural communities in Papua New Guinea (PNG). It is a threshold study which reports on research conducted in the earliest stages of mobile phone adoption in these areas. It explores the ways in which this new technology changes people’s lives, social structures and relationships. The research focuses on non-urban communities, which previously had little or no access to modern communication technologies, but which are in some cases still using traditional forms of communication such as drums. It has found that the introduction of mobile telecommunications has generally been viewed positively, although several negative concerns have been strongly felt. Specific benefits related to enhanced communication with relatives and friends living away from home villages, and use of the technology in time-critical emergencies or crises. Difficulties have arisen with respect to the cost of owning and operating a handset, as well as financial and logistical challenges when recharging handset batteries, particularly in areas with no mains electricity supply. Perceived damaging effects of mobile phone access related to sex, crime and pornography. The changes taking place are described through a social lens, by foregrounding the perceptions of villagers. The perspectives of key informants, such as telecommunication company managers, are also discussed. Employing the technique of triangulation (using different methods and sources) has helped to validate the findings of the research project. The sources constantly overlap and agree on the main themes, such as those outlined above. PNG is a developing country which performs poorly on a wide range of development indicators. A large majority of the people live outside of the major towns and cities. It is therefore worthwhile investigating the introduction of mobile phone technology in rural areas. These areas often have poor access to services, including transport, health, education and banking. Until 2007, communities in such regions fell outside of mobile phone coverage areas. In the case of all ten villages discussed in this thesis, there has never been any landline telephone infrastructure available. Therefore, this research on mobile phones is in effect documenting the first ever access to any kind of phone in these communities. This research makes a unique contribution to knowledge about the role of communication in PNG, and has implications for policy, practice and theory. In the policy arena, the thesis aids understanding of the impact which communication sector competition and regulation can have on rural and relatively isolated communities. There are three practical problems which have emerged from the research: cost, battery recharging difficulties and breakage are all major obstacles to uptake and use of mobile telephony in rural communities. Efforts to reduce usage costs, enable easier recharging, and design more robust handsets would allow for increased utilisation of mobile phones for a range of purposes. With respect to the realm of theory, this research sits amongst the most recent scholarship in the mobile phone field, located within the broader communication theory area. It recommends cautionary reading of any literature which suggests that mobile phones will reduce poverty and increase incomes in poor, rural communities in developing countries. Nonetheless, the present research adds weight to mobile phone studies which suggest that the primary advantages of mobile phones in such settings are for the satisfactions of communication of itself, and for social interaction among loved ones.

Corporate sustainability reporting for water : water footprint, global reporting initiative and the water accounting framework

Three initiatives with respect to water reporting in the mining sector are compared in this paper to understand the quantities that are asked for by each initiative and the guidelines of those initiatives through means of a case study. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) was chosen because it has achieved widespread acceptance amongst mining companies and its water-related indicators are widely reported in corporate sustainability reporting. In contrast, the Water Footprint Network, which has been an important initiative in food and agricultural industries, has had low acceptance in the mining industry. The third initiative is the Water Accounting Framework, a collaboration between The Minerals Council of Australia and the Sustainable Minerals Institute of the University of Queensland. A water account had previously been created according to the Water Accounting Framework for the case study site, an open pit coal mine in the Bowen Basin. The resulting account provided consistent data for the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Water Footprint attributable to mining but in particular, a deficiency in the GRI indicator of EN10 reuse and recycling efficiency was illustrated quantitatively. This has far-reaching significance due to the widespread use of GRI indicators in mining corporate reports.

Desenvolvimento, sustentabilidade e relações internacionais: uma análise dos indicadores de desenvolvimento sustentável e sua aplicação ao caso brasileiro

O desenvolvimento sustentável foi definido pelo Relatório Brundtland como o desenvolvimento que satisfaz as necessidades presentes, sem comprometer a capacidade das gerações futuras de suprir suas próprias necessidades. Esse tipo de desenvolvimento abarca tanto a questão do crescimento econômico com distribuição de renda, quanto a necessidade de se preservar os recursos escassos do planeta, além de seus ecossistemas. O desenvolvimento sustentável é um tema que aborda dois conceitos-chave que afetam as relações entre os países: a necessidade de desenvolvimento de muitas nações que ainda não atingiram o patamar de riqueza dos países desenvolvidos e o imperativo da sustentabilidade, que restringe a possibilidade do desenvolvimento econômico ao interferir no processo produtivo das nações. Dessa forma, torna-se necessário abordar o desenvolvimento sustentável na perspectiva das Relações Internacionais. Acordos cooperativos em relação ao meio ambiente têm sido assinados muito mais como forma de cooperação bilateral do que global. O contexto histórico nos leva a um ponto de inflexão no cenário internacional, iniciado no ano de 2002 e que perdura até os dias atuais. Neste início de século XXI, a convergência dos países ao desenvolvimento sustentável passa a ser analisada pelo esforço unilateral de cada nação, explicitando o uso dos indicadores de desenvolvimento sustentável e justificando sua apreciação. É neste período em que se dará a análise da economia brasileira, conforme proposto pela dissertação. A partir da análise dos dados fornecidos pelos indicadores para a situação do desenvolvimento sustentável no Brasil, tem-se elaborada a questão central que esta dissertação procurará responder: a efetividade no uso destes indicadores para o direcionamento das políticas de desenvolvimento sustentável das nações. A valoração do desenvolvimento sustentável é de vital importância para o posicionamento das nações frente ao tema ambiental no mundo. Como diferentes conceitos são aceitos para o tema, a possibilidade de um grande acordo multilateral acerca do mesmo fica prejudicada. A maneira encontrada por alguns países foi redirecionar suas economias unilateralmente à sustentabilidade. O que isso irá provocar nas Relações Internacionais só o tempo poderá dizer. O que é certo é que a frágil relação entre os países será afetada por esse fato. O Brasil desponta como um expoente do desenvolvimento sustentável, pelo menos na intenção, e é através do uso de ferramentas como os indicadores de desenvolvimento sustentável que podemos mensurar o quanto seu discurso se converte em prática.

Avaliação ambiental através da utilização do fitoplâncton. Estudo de caso: Ilha Guaíba Mangaratiba RJ.

A Baía da Ilha Guaíba é um sistema costeiro tropical com influência de águas oceânicas, principalmente da Corrente do Brasil e das Águas Costeiras que são predominantes em toda a costa da região sudeste. O objetivo geral foi identificar os indicadores biológicos das possíveis alterações ambientais e ou antrópicas e como objetivos específicos, apresentar a distribuição qualitativa e quantitativa do fitoplâncton em função da espacialidade e da sazonalidade em duas situações de maré bem como demonstrar a estrutura da comunidade fitoplanctônica dentro de um Programa de Monitoramento desenvolvido pela empresa Minerações Brasileiras Reunidas através do Centro de Tecnologia Ambiental da FIRJAN (CTA). Foram estabelecidos 9 pontos amostrais na área sob influência do Terminal Marítimo da Ilha levando em consideração as características de cada um. Para o estudo qualitativo e quantitativo do fitoplâncton, 200 ml de água foram coletados em dois pontos de amostragem 7 e 9 em baixa-mar e preamar, através de garrafa de Van Dorn e nos 9 pontos foi realizado arrasto com rede de 50μm, ambos em quatro épocas sazonais distintas. Ao todo foram encontradas 176 unidades taxonômicas demonstrando uma importante oferta de nichos. A espécie que mais se destacou foi Coscinodiscus cf. centralis em todas as amostras de rede. A sazonalidade foi vista através de uma análise de Cluster tanto para as amostras de rede quanto para as de garrafa. Não houve registro de espécies que indicassem alterações antrópicas não revelando condição de eutrofização. Foram encontradas espécies indicadoras de diferentes massas de água como também outras potencialmente nocivas. Os resultados bióticos e abióticos demonstraram que a área sob influência do empreendimento está dentro dos padrões estabelecidos pela legislação vigente e que para o estabelecimento de um desenvolvimento sustentável torna-se imprescindível a adoção de métodos padronizados e multiinterdisciplinares para que seja possível comparar e acompanhar os processos e seus efeitos viabilizando assim a manutenção da biodiversidade.

Indicadores de sostenibilidad ambiental en el periurbano de la ciudad de Mar del Plata, Argentina

Los indicadores de sostenibilidad conforman herramientas útiles para la toma de decisiones. Las ciudades latinoamericanas, y especialmente las áreas de expansión sin planificación adecuada, enfrentan desafíos cada vez mayores para revertir problemáticas que amenazan su sostenibilidad. El presente trabajo evalúa de manera preliminar, la sostenibilidad ambiental del periurbano de Mar del Plata (Argentina) tomando como referencia algunos de los indicadores propuestos por el modelo del Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo en la Iniciativa Ciudades Emergentes y Sostenibles. Se construyó un índice sintético (Índice de Sostenibilidad Ambiental, ISA) que integra trece indicadores agrupados en ocho temas. Las situaciones más críticas (ISA: 0,45-0,558) se identifican fundamentalmente en zonas en las que se desarrollan actividades rurales y en las que se localizan asentamientos de carácter precario. El estudio realizado profundiza en el conocimiento de la dimensión ambiental de la sostenibilidad, enfatizando en el análisis de los contrastes internos del periurbano marplatense.

Economic globalization, inequality and body mass index:a cross-national analysis of 127 countries

This article investigates to what extent the worldwide increase in body mass index (BMI) has been affected by economic globalization and inequality. We used time-series and longitudinal cross-national analysis of 127 countries from 1980 to 2008. Data on mean adult BMI were obtained from the Global Burden of Metabolic Risk Factors of Chronic Diseases Collaborating Group. Globalization was measured using the Swiss Economic Institute (KOF) index of economic globalization. Economic inequality between countries was measured with the mean difference in gross domestic product per capita purchasing power parity in international dollars. Economic inequality within countries was measured using the Gini index from the Standardized World Income Inequality Database. Other covariates including poverty, population size, urban population, openness to trade and foreign direct investment were taken from the World Development Indicators (WDI) database. Time-series regression analyses showed that the global increase in BMI is positively associated with both the index of economic globalization and inequality between countries, after adjustment for covariates. Longitudinal panel data analyses showed that the association between economic globalization and BMI is robust after controlling for all covariates and using different estimators. The association between economic inequality within countries and BMI, however, was significant only among high-income nations. More research is needed to study the pathways between economic globalization and BMI. These findings, however, contribute to explaining how contemporary globalization can be reformed to promote better health and control the global obesity epidemic. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Física e contemporaneidade no ensino secundário: um contributo no âmbito da formação de professores

O presente trabalho versa a problemática da abordagem da Física Moderna e Contemporânea (FMC) no Ensino Secundário no quadro dos desafios que se colocam à educação científica actual. Num mundo em mudança em que o futuro não está garantido, o esforço educativo deve incluir a dimensão da importância do conhecimento na transformação dos indivíduos com vista à intervenção. A literatura tem apresentado a transposição para a sala de aula da Física desenvolvida ao longo do século XX, como relevante neste domínio. Esta relevância prende-se com a actualidade do conhecimento, com a associação a grande parte da tecnologia actual e ainda com a ligação ao conhecimento mais profundo da natureza e, supostamente, ao sentido do universo. Porém, uma escola de cariz essencialmente transmissivo e desencorajadora de itinerâncias pessoais, tornará muito limitativa a referida transposição. Vários são os constrangimentos da abordagem da FMC neste nível de ensino. Trata-se de um conhecimento contra-intuitivo, que suscita interpretações diversificadas e que se desenvolve formalmente com base em ferramentas matemáticas, em grande parte, não acessíveis a alunos do Ensino Secundário. A formação de professores é uma vertente essencial dentro desta problemática, podendo ser considerada, em muitos casos, deficiente ou desadequada por via do mesmo tipo de constrangimentos referidos. Este trabalho propõe-se estudar as possibilidades e potencialidades da formação de professores no contexto apresentado, a partir de um cenário alternativo que consideramos inovador. Para isso foi concebido, implementado e avaliado um Círculo de Estudos no âmbito da formação em FMC. Utilizando uma estratégia de investigação/ acção/ formação, ensaiou-se a integração de uma certa transdisciplinaridade e multidimensionalidade humana num percurso de natureza complexa, procurando-se a emergência a partir da interacção. À partida eram procurados indicadores de construção identitária e desenvolvimento da profissionalidade. Era ainda esperada a participação dos professores formandos na construção de materiais didácticos. Utilizando uma metodologia de cariz qualitativo na tipologia de estudo de caso, os dados foram recolhidos a partir de instrumentos preparados para o efeito como questionários, mas também de outras fontes como textos reflexivos dos professores e materiais didácticos elaborados pelos mesmos. Os resultados obtidos são de dois tipos. Em primeiro lugar mostram que o percurso efectuado produziu alterações ao nível do discurso dos professores, que revela valorização da itinerância e abertura à incerteza na abordagem da FMC, bem como uma maior familiarização com os conceitos. Por outro lado, os materiais de utilização em sala de aula produzidos foram considerados de interesse como contributos didácticos para utilização futura. Pensamos ainda poder afirmar que são apresentados elementos importantes para a definição de um desenho de formação de professores em FMC, com vista a um ensino e a uma aprendizagem pertinentes.

Good Practice in EU Public Service Media and Contemporary Practice in Jordan: A Comparative Analysis

UNESCO Amman Office Foreword: UNESCO Amman office is pleased to publish a comparative analysis between good Public Service Media (PSM) practices in Europe and the contemporary practice in Jordan. The study is part of the Support to Media in Jordan project, funded by the European Union, aiming to increase media freedom, media independence and journalistic professionalism in Jordan. The state owned broadcaster, Jordan Radio and Television (JRTV), has informed, entertained and educated Jordanians for decades. JRTV reaches almost every corner of the Kingdom and has the potential to serve all Jordanians with balanced, impartial and accurate news and programmes relevant to their day-to-day lives.Based on this potential there has been a long standing ambition to transform the JRTV from a state broadcaster to a public service broadcaster; from a TV and radio that predominately serves the state, to a broadcaster that serves the public and is independent from the Government of the day. This ambition is expressed also in the Support to Media in Jordan project, agreed between the Government an the EU, under which UNESCO has been asked to produce two studies: The comparative PSM analysis and a broader media landscape assessment based on UNESCO’s Media Development Indicators (MDI’s). The Jordanian MDI assessment was carried out by a team of national and international researchers during the first six months of 2015, and builds on the rich flora of recent studies on the Jordanian media landscape, as well as on original research. The study is available in Arabic and English. Professor Naomi Sakr carried out the comparative PSM analysis parallel to the MDI study, and in close cooperation with the MDI research team and UNESCO Amman office.

Référentiel de compétences infirmières : soins intensifs, traumatologie

Rapport de stage présenté à la Faculté des sciences infirmières en vue de l'obtention du grade de Maître ès sciences (M.Sc.) en sciences infirmières option formation en soins infirmiers

Health, Education and Employment in a Forward-Backward Dichotomy Based on Standard of Living Index for the Tribes in Kerala

The Paper unfolds the paradox that exists in the tribal community with respect to the development indicators and hence tries to cull out the difference in the standard of living of the tribes in a dichotomous framework, forward and backward. Four variables have been considered for ascertaining the standard of living and socio-economic conditions of the tribes. The data for the study is obtained from a primary survey in the three tribal predominant districts of Wayanad, Idukki and Palakkad. Wayanad was selected for studying six tribal communities (Paniya, Adiya, Kuruma, Kurichya, Urali and Kattunaika), Idukki for two communities (Malayarayan and Muthuvan) and Palakkad for one community (Irula). 500 samples from 9 prominent tribal communities of Kerala have been collected according to multistage proportionate random sample framework. The analysis highlights the disproportionate nature of socio-economic indicators within the tribes in Kerala owing to the failure of governmental schemes and assistances meant for their empowerment. The socio-economic variables, such as education, health, and livelihood have been augmented with SLI based on correlation analysis gives interesting inference for policy options as high educated tribal communities are positively correlated with high SLI and livelihood. Further, each of the SLI variable is decomposed using Correlation and Correspondence analysis for understanding the relative standing of the nine tribal sub communities in the three dimensional framework of high, medium and low SLI levels. Tribes with good education and employment (Malayarayan, Kuruma and Kurichya) have a better living standard and hence they can generally be termed as forward tribes whereas those with a low or poor education, employment and living standard indicators (Paniya, Adiya, Urali, Kattunaika, Muthuvans and Irula) are categorized as backward tribes

El instrumento panarabista y los factores que han impedido el cumplimiento de sus objetivos

Creada en 1945 la Liga de los Estados Árabes como instrumento del panarabismo y la cual se propuso servir como foro de debate político y espacio para la discusión y diseño de las estrategias encaminadas a atender sus diversos campos de cooperación

Tratado de libre comercio entre Colombia e Israel. Perspectivas generales y oportunidades para el sector agrícola colombiano

Las estrategias tendientes a la diversificación de los mercados de exportación e internacionalización de la economía por parte del gobierno colombiano y sus políticas gubernamentales han incluido la firma de una serie de Tratados de Libre Comercio, entre ellos el TLC de última generación firmado con El Estado de Israel. Estos tratados además de abordar temas tradicionales de comercio, tratan nuevos capítulos en inversiones y servicios. Así mismo se analizan las principales políticas por parte del gobierno de Israel para la competitividad en términos empresariales y sociales. Más adelante se consideran aspectos generales de la economía colombiana y se analiza la relación comercial bilateral entre el Estado de Israel y la República de Colombia para entender su comportamiento histórico y el ambiente actual. Finalmente se hace un énfasis en el sector agrícola de Israel y sus aspectos que lo han dirigido al éxito, una observación corta del sector en Colombia y luego aspectos adicionales para a facilitación del comercio con Israel. El estudio va dirigido a empresarios, compañías o entes públicos a nivel local e internacional que vean en el sector agrícola colombiano una oportunidad de desarrollo, aprovechando los beneficios de comercio y conocimiento, con el objetivo de mejorar la competitividad y productividad del sector en Colombia. Se utilizan metodologías tanto cuantitativas como cualitativas para la investigación y análisis de caso tomando la información correspondiente de fuentes verídicas e independientes para así poder reseñar y describir las oportunidades y retos del sector agrícola.