The World Summit of Young Entrepreneurs, established in Canada in 1993, has always been coordinated as an integral part of major global UN conferences. The summit has been held nine times in six countries on four continents. Over an 11-year period, the summit has brought together over 4,800 emerging young entrepreneurs (between ages 21 and 42) from 185 countries and has facilitated over 1,000 international joint ventures.

The Executive Council of the World Summit of Young Entrepreneurs-an integral part of the World Trade Forum and World Trade University launched by the United Nations-has unanimously decided that the 2004 Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented at the Plenary Session of UNCTAD XI in São Paulo, Brazil.The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to a "distinguished global personality" for his/her extraordinary achievement in bringing peoples and institutions together to enhance shared prosperity.

At the World Summit of Young Entrepreneurs, we have had the privilege of giving the award to eminent global personalities such as H.E. Raymond Barre, former Prime Minister of France; H.E. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former Secretary-General of the United Nations; and H.E. Cheddi. Jagan, former Prime Minister of Guyana, among others. We are also honored by the engagement of Their Excellencies Kofi A. Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations; Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission; The Honorable Guy Verhofstadt, Prime Minister of Belgium; H.R.H. Prince Philippe of Belgium; Donald McKinnon, Secretary General of the Commonwealth; and many other distinguished citizens of the world.

Speakers: