Realising trade’s potential to contribute to sustainable development
Organised by:
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), in collaboration with World Trade Organisation (WTO) and International Trade Centre (ITC)
Summary:
In the landscape of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), trade is recognized as an engine for inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction (Paragraph 67, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development). However, to realize trade’s potential to contribute to the promotion of sustainable development, countries are encouraged to integrate sustainable development into their trade policy and to do so at all levels (Paragraph 82, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda). But how can countries ensure that trade functions effectively and as a means to achieve the SDGs?
In this side event, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), in collaboration with sister agencies in the “Geneva Trade Hub” – International Trade Centre (ITC) and World Trade Organisation (WTO) – presents what “integrating sustainable development into trade policy” entails for public-sector policymakers, businesses and the the multilateral trading system.
Opening remarks will be made by Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary General of UNCTAD. Also from UNCTAD, Miho Shirotori, Chief, Global and Regional Trade Analysis Section, Division on International Trade will present UNCTAD’s latest report “Trading into Sustainable Development”. The report aims to help public-sector policymakers disentangle complex web of inter-linkages between trade policy and the determinants of sustainable development.
Two discussants of the report are:
– Puvan J. Selvanathan, Head of the ITC Office to the UN in New York who will discuss the importance of intergating SMEs into international trade in order to achieve inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction; and
– Hans-Peter Werner, Counsellor, Head, the Committee on Trade and Development Unit, Development Division who will discuss the contribution multilateral trade outcomes could have on specific SDGs, indicators and targets.
Related information:
Contact:
Miho Shirotori, miho.shirotori@unctad.org