CCP: HF 03/Inf.1

1. LOCATION OF SESSION

By kind invitation of the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Joint Meeting of the Thirty-second Session of the Intergovernmental Group on Hard Fibres and the Thirty-fourth Session of the Intergovernmental Group on Jute, Kenaf and Allied Fibres will be held in Salvador, from 8 to 11 July 2003. The venue will be:

Pestana Bahia Hotel
Rua Fonte do Boi, 216
Rio Vermelho - Salvador
CEP: 41940-360 – Bahia
Telephone and Facsimile: +55 (71) 453-8000
Website: www.pestanahotels.com.br

2. ENQUIRIES

(a) All enquiries concerning the meeting, except those regarding local arrangements, may be addressed to:
Mr Brian Moir
Secretary
Intergovernmental Group on Hard Fibres and
Intergovernmental Group on Jute, Kenaf and Allied Fibres
Commodities and Trade Division
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
00153 Rome, Italy
Telephone : +39 06 570-54339
Facsimile : +39 06 570-54495
Email : [email protected]
(b) Information on local arrangements should be addressed to the Liaison Officers for the Session:
Ms Patricia Orrico
Promo - Centro Internacional de Negócios da Bahia
Av. Tancredo Neves 776, Ed. DESENBANCO, Bloco “A”, Pituba
Salvador, Bahia
Brazil
Telephone : +55 71 340 9470 /9415 /9433
Facsimile : +55 71 341 8055
Email : patricia@promobahia.com.br
Counsellor Moira Pinto Coelho
Ministry of Foreign Relations, Esplanada dos Ministérios – Bloco “H”
Brasilia, DF
Brazil
Telephone : +55 61 411 6207
Facsimile : +55 61 411 6010
Email : [email protected]

3. ENTRY FORMALITIES

Delegates and accompanying travellers who, because of their nationality, require visas, should apply for them at the embassies/consulates of Brazil, in their respective countries of residence. Should any difficulties arise, the Liaison Officer must be informed at least four weeks prior the Session.
Countries for which no visa is required include:
Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Korea (Republic of), Malaysia (visa required for business only), Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Spain , Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, Uruguay and Venezuela (visa required for business only).
Countries for which no visa is required for official or diplomatic passports:
Angola, Czech Republic, Mexico, Romania, Tunisia and Turkey.


Countries for which a visa is required include:
Algeria, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, China, Congo (Democratic Republic of), Congo (Republic of), Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia (Kingdom of), Senegal, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania (United Republic of), Turkmenistan, Uganda, United States of America, Viet Nam, Yugoslavia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

4. AIRPORT TAX

The international departure tax is currently US$42.00, which is usually prepaid when ticket is issued.

5. HOTEL ACCOMODATION

Delegates should make their hotel reservation through:
ATLAS TURISMO Ltda., Ms. Luana Galvão
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: +5571 336-2200
Fax: +5571 3360091

A special arrangement has been finalised with Pestana Bahia Hotel. The special single and double daily rate is US$75.00 (plus 5 percent tax).
Delegates should send the requested information below to:
ATLAS TURISMO
Attention: Ms. Lucila Moreira
E-mail: [email protected]
Fax: +55 71 341 8055

6. TRANSPORT

Delegates will be met at the Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport by the local secretariat. Delegates should ensure that the organisers are advised of their travel details.

7. CLIMATE

In July, the climate in Salvador is warm and occasionally rainy. Temperature is around
26 degrees Celsius.

8. HEALTH

An international certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is compulsory for travellers who, within the three months prior to their arrival in Brazil, have visited or been in transit through any of the following countries: Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, French Guyana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Venezuela and Zaire.
Additionally, vaccination against yellow fever is recommended for all travellers when visiting the following states of Brazil: Acre, Amazonas, Amapá, Distrito Federal (Brasilia), Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso do Sul, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima and Tocantins. Please note that yellow fever vaccinations take approximately 10 days to become effective.
Participants from Venezuela should have a certification of vaccination against measles.

9. CURRENCY

The currency in Brazil is the real (pl. reais). There are 100 centavos to the real ($R). As at the end of April 2003, the exchange rate is approximately as follows:
1.00 US Dollar (USD) = 3 Brazil Real (BRL)
1.00 Euro (EUR) = 3.3 Brazil Real (BRL)
Most major international credit cards are accepted in Brazil.

10. BANKING FACILITIES

Banks operate from Monday to Friday, 10.00 hours – 16.00 hours.

11. ELECTRICITY

In Salvador, the current is 110/120 volts. For most electric appliances Brazil uses a two round-pinned socket.

12. MEETING REGISTRATION

The registration will be take place at the Pestana Bahia Hotel from 17.00 to 19.00 hours on Monday, 7 July and from 08.00 to 09.00 hours on Tuesday, 8 July.

ANNEX I

PROVISIONAL TIMETABLE

Monday, 7 July 2003
17.00 – 19.00 hours : Registration (Pestana Bahia Hotel)

Tuesday, 8 July 2003
8.00 – 9.00 hours : Registration (Pestana Bahia Hotel)
9.00 – 10.00 hours : Official opening of the Joint Meeting of the Thirty-second
Session of the Intergovernmental Group on Hard Fibres and the Thirty-fourth Session of the Intergovernmental Group on Jute, Kenaf and Allied Fibres
10.30 – 12.30 hours : Consultation on Natural Fibres
1. Market situation and outlook for natural fibres: Current situation, short-term and medium-term outlook for jute, sisal, abaca and coir
2. Impact of trade restrictions on fibres trade
3. The use of natural fibres (jute, sisal, coir) in composites
12.30 – 13.30 hours : Lunch
13.30 – 17.30 hours : Consultation on Natural Fibres (cont.)

Wednesday, 9 July 2003
9.30 – 12.30 hours : Consultation on Natural Fibres (cont.)
12.30 – 13.30 hours : Lunch
13.30 – 17.30 hours : The 13^th Session of the Sub-Group of Sisal and Henequen Producing Countries

Thursday, 10 July 2003 Field visit to view sisal production and processing

Friday, 11 July 2003
8.30 – 09.30 hours : Adoption of the Report of the Sub-Group of Sisal and Henequen Producing Countries
9.30 – 12.30 hours : Joint Meeting of the Thirty-second Session of the Intergovernmental Group on Hard Fibres and the Thirty-fourth Session of the Intergovernmental Group on Jute, Kenaf and Allied Fibres
12.30 – 13.30 hours : Lunch
13.30 – 17.30 hours : Working session