International Partnership Fair, Austria, Vienna, 13-15 February 2006

Embedded in the overall objectives for the OECD LEED Forum on Partnerships and Local Governance, the International Partnership Fair sought to enhance local economic and employment development through strengthening the effectiveness of labour market and social policies. The Fair was held at the Parkhotel Schönbrunn (Vienna, Austria) on 13-15 February 2006. The objective was to offer participants opportunities to:

• exchange knowledge and best practice examples in relation to core aspects of partnership working (including defining aims and objectives, drawing up strategies, bringing on board partners and developing tools and instruments);
• build-up co-operations between partnerships; and
• establish professional networks and personal contacts.

The Forum built on the expertise and informal networks developed through the OECD LEED programme and sought to optimise the contribution of partnership structures to local governance and effective policy development. The Forum worked closely with the OECD LEED Trento Centre in the field of local governance.

All institutions and organisations involved in the management of area-based partnerships may become members of the Forum, including: government offices working in partnership at various levels, agencies and non-government organisations involved in partnerships at the national or sub-national levels; and research organisations and other bodies supporting partnerships and clusters.

The International Partnership Fair built on the framework developed by the First Forum Meeting and addressed demand for the exchange of information and the comparison of concrete experience in relation to partnerships and governance issues. Hence, the main objectives of this Fair were to stimulate the exchange of experience in partnership working, to pursue an integrated approach to local economic development and social inclusion, and to offer opportunities for knowledge transfer.

For further information, please visit the official website of the Fair.