The US Commercial Service for the second year, supported the US Exhibitors (and visitors) at ITA-certified trade fair 'International Aid + Trade', a unique, independent global event for effective aid, humanitarian relief and sustained development, held at PALEXPO, Geneva, Switzerland, January 29-30, 2008. Under the theme Building Partnerships for Relief and Development', the exhibition and conference brought together humanitarian, aid and development practitioners, including representatives from NGOs (non-governmental organizations), international relief organizations, governments and various UN Agencies, product vendors, lecturers and others from around the world.

Julie Snyder, SCO, and Maria Pamish, Commercial Assistant, CS Switzerland coordinated CS participation in Europe with show management and was joined by KL Fredericks, Director, Harlem USEAC, (New York), who counseled many US participants prior to the event and during the two-day show. CS Switzerland was also able to set up individual meetings for companies and Ms. Fredericks with the procurement chiefs of various Geneva-based UN agencies (UNOG, WHO, UNHCR) and NGOs (ICRC, etc.).

The event drew a world wide audience and boasted over 120 exhibitors, a no-frills demonstration area for experiencing large kit up-close, a challenging outdoor all-terrain vehicle demonstration course, workshop panel discussions involving experienced pre-eminent members in the field of aid, relief and development, and learning centre presentations from leading organizations - topics from 'Harnessing Globalization', 'Partnership for Relief - Optimising Logistics' and 'Media and Disasters' to 'Emergency Preparedness: Effective Procurement Practice'. During the session on 'Financing for Development', Ms. Fredericks was recognized for her franchise counseling for NGO sustainability. Notable speakers included Kate Adie and Brian Hanrahan, BBC, Graham Saunders, International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Charles Ansbach, Skystone Ryan (US) and Myles Wickstead, Secretariat to the Commission for Africa.

The US exhibitors and visitors were grateful that the US Commercial Service recognizes the opportunities available to US companies in the multi-billion USD UN/Humanitarian Relief/NGO procurement market and had knowledgeable personnel available for counseling at the show.