The economic vulnerability and resilience of small states was the focus of a workshop held in Malta from 1-3 March 2004.

Organized by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the University of Malta, the workshop sought to provide input into the preparations for the International Meeting for the Ten-year Review of the Programme of Action on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), scheduled to take place in Mauritius from 30 August to 3 September 2004. Twenty-six experts discussed features of economic vulnerability in small states and made recommendations on strategies for developing their resilience. Participants also explored the issue of graduation from LDC status of a number of SIDS, and the need for special and differentiated treatment and necessary policy space for small states, particularly SIDS, within the WTO – both of which were key priorities identified at the inter-regional SIDS meeting that took place in the Bahamas in January. The need for continued work on and the establishment of vulnerability and resilience indices was also reiterated. Download the workshop’s conclusions.