OECD Global Forum on Local Development

Global Trade, Local Opportunities: Jobs, Skills and Entrepreneurship Across Borders  

27 - 28 May 2026
Maastricht, the Netherlands

Stay tuned for registration details

ABOUT THE EVENT

Trade integration is a powerful driver of local productivity and growth, but its gains have been uneven, and recent shocks have exposed vulnerabilities. As global value chains are reshaped by new technologies, geopolitical tensions, environmental pressures and supply disruptions, risks but also opportunities are emerging. Governments and businesses are both looking to diversify markets but also build more resilient, locally rooted production systems at home in strategic sectors. The challenge is to manage these shifts in ways that deliver better jobs, stronger firms and more inclusive communities, including easing transitions for workers negatively impacted. This event will explore how places can thrive in this new era of “global trade, local opportunities”, focusing on four pillars:
  •  Taking the pulse of local labour markets local labour markets. 
  •  Adapting local development strategies to new realities
  •  Skills and worker transitions in a rewired global economy 
  •   Powering local business in new markets and value chains
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PROGRAMME

With its focus on exchange and networking, the Forum’s Annual Meeting already provides the type of experience that cannot be replicated online, but there are opportunities to integrate more innovative formats, moderation styles, and activities into its offerings. The sessions at the 2026 Annual Meeting will be designed in a way to make them as informative, interactive and engaging as possible.  

Stay tuned to learn more about our plenaries, deep dives and study tours!
Full agenda will be shared soon
Full agenda will be shared soon

WHAT MAKES THIS EVENT UNIQUE?

The event bridges high-level policy conversations, hands-on deep dives, and site visits to help you gain practical, actionable ideas. Whether you’re brainstorming in a deep-dive session or visiting a local incubator, the experience is built to energize, inspire, and connect. Insights and experiences shared by participants have a life beyond the event – they feed OECD work throughout the year, surfacing as good practices in reports; informing Committee discussions and high-level meetings; and shaping contributions to global policy agendas like the G20.  
Learn more about the 2025 Forum Annual meeting in Barranquilla, ColombiaLearn more about the 2024 Forum Annual meeting in Greater Copenhagen
Learn more about the 2025 Forum Annual meeting in Barranquilla, ColombiaLearn more about the 2024 Forum Annual meeting in Greater Copenhagen

Who can you meet there?


From ministers to local leaders and young entrepreneurs with big ideas, this OECD platform brings together a community connected by a shared passion for driving development at the local level. Explore the agenda and familiarize yourself with fellow Forum-goers by activating the networking function in your profile.

What will you take away?

 
This is your one-stop gateway to the latest OECD research and international peer learning. You'll bring back new insights on AI, inclusive economies, local resilience, and so much more. Engage directly with global peers, learn what’s working on the ground, and share your takeaways with your team back home.


Why Maastricht?


Maastricht is the capital of Limburg, which sits at a unique crossroads in Europe, bordering Belgium and Germany. Once defined by its coal-mining and heavy industry, the region has reinvented itself as a tri-national hub of innovation, knowledge exchange, and collaboration.  
Practical information
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Event venue

The MECC 

Forum 100, 6229 GV Maastricht, Netherlands
https://www.mecc.nl/en/
Practical information

Join our partnership programme

Contact us

Create long-standing relationships with the OECD by collaborating on research, building your network and increasing your visibility through the Local Development Forum Partners Programme.


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PLACES Live: Local Initiatives Marketplace

Keep an eye out for the call of Local Initiatives Marketplace
Do you have a programme or project that deserves international recognition? In this exhibition-style session, participants can tell the story of how their local programmes, policies or initiatives are shaping the communities to an audience of hundreds of policymakers, practitioners, and experts.
Keep an eye out for the call of Local Initiatives Marketplace

Last year's edition in numbers

3600+

Participants

50+

Countries

200+

High-Level Speakers

Questions? Get in touch with the team 

OECD Global Forum on Local Development

  


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 With thanks to our Forum annual partners