Brussels, 25/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Sustainable Trade and Innovation Centre (STIC) has just been inaugurated to help developing countries export sustainable products, that is to say products whose expansion strategy integrates social and environmental considerations. This project was conceived and created by the Commonwealth Science Council, The Royal Tropical Institute of the Netherlands, and the European Partners for the Environment, with the backing of the European Commission. The first STIC pilot projects will consist in helping potential exporters target niche markets by bringing together buyers, vendors and users of work-wear such as uniforms, sustainably produced in developing countries with strong textiles capacity.
Pascal Lamy, European Commissioner for Trade, welcomed the launch of his centre which has as purpose to bring together stakeholders from North and South to create a more co-operative context for sustainable trade and innovation. In a speech made at the inauguration of the European branch of STIC, he declared: "This is a clear deliverable on the commitments adopted in Johannesburg in August. Initiatives such as STIC, brining together private and public partners, are key to encourage trade in sustainable products, including fair trade, ethical trade and organic trade".