The 2026 Annual Meeting of the Forum explored how communities could navigate shifting trade dynamics to seize local opportunities and drive growth. International trade has long been a powerful driver of local productivity and job creation, but its benefits have been uneven, and recent shocks exposed vulnerabilities. As trade flows were reshaped by technological change, geopolitical tensions, environmental pressures and supply disruptions, local communities faced new risks but also fresh opportunities to reinvent their economies. The Meeting spotlighted strategies by the private, public and non-profit sectors to support workers through transition, strengthen locally rooted production in strategic sectors, and help communities remain open, competitive and resilient in a rapidly changing global economy.
The Meeting was structured around four pillars:
- PILLAR I: Leveraging data-driven insights to identify risks and opportunities for local labour markets.
- PILLAR II: Adapting local development strategies in an evolving global economy.
- PILLAR III: Facilitating upskilling and worker transitions amid changing industry needs.
- PILLAR IV: Enabling local businesses and entrepreneurs in new markets and value chains.
