WTO Trade for Peace Week 2020: Tech in Trade for Peace
Date & Time
BACKGROUND
The "Trade for Peace" through WTO Accessions initiative was launched in December 2017 at the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires after being inspired by the inauguration of the g7+ WTO Accessions Group established by acceding and recently acceded LDCs. The Group, which is a sub-group of the g7+,1 consists of five acceding governments (Comoros, Sao Tomé and Principe, Somalia, South-Sudan, Sudan and Timor-Leste) and three recently acceded members (Afghanistan, Liberia and Yemen). For the first time in the history of the WTO, the Group brought together fragile and conflict affected countries (FCAs) which aspire to use trade and economic integration as a tool to rebuild their fragile economies and to promote sustainable and inclusive peace.
The vision of the Trade for Peace initiative underlies the raison d'être of the multilateral trading system, which was originally designed as a pillar of post-war efforts to maintain global peace and stability. The initiative aims at promoting the rules-based system as a base for peacebuilding efforts by highlighting the role of trade and economic integration in the security, humanitarian and development fields.
Since the launch of the Trade for Peace initiative, the WTO has sought to bring the trade and peace communities closer together through a series of lectures, experience-sharing sessions and outreach activities with different partners.
The first edition of the Trade for Peace Week will run from 30 November to 4 December 2020 and will consist of ten 90-minute panel discussions among relevant stakeholders from the trade and peace communities. Each session is organized in collaboration with a different partner.
The goal of the Trade for Peace initiative is to expand its reach to partners in the trade, peace and humanitarian communities to widen collaboration in areas of common interest. Government officials, development partners, WTO Members and Observers, representatives from other International Organizations, media, private sector, academia, and civil society are being invited to join the conversation.
Please find the event page here.
SESSION OVERVIEW
The UN Technology Bank supports national and regional technological efforts in least developed countries, reinforcing partnerships across sectors and helping nations identify and use appropriate technologies to transform their economies and improve livelihoods.
At the heart of this mission, is to support the emergence and scaling of entrepreneurs, who play a vital role, not only for bringing new solutions and fresh ideas to market, but also as the motor of economic development promoting the creation of new jobs, creating new market opportunities and transforming economies.
In the midst of the Fourth Industrial Revolution tech is everywhere. All the way from how we live, communicate and trade. But how is technology powered by the creative force of entrepreneurs shaping a future for peace? Meet the entrepreneurs who are building a resilient pathway for growth and greater opportunities for all right from some of the most conflicted zones.
WHAT WILL THIS SESSION EXPLORE?
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What are the main challenges when it comes to starting up a business or other non-profit organization in fragile and conflict affected countries?
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How can technology and connectivity become the tool for unleashing entrepreneurial talent and fostering trade?
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How can we bring private sector tools to solve public sector challenges?
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How can public sector tools strengthen the pathway for more entrepreneurs to leapfrog on key
technologies that can bring about new business and trade opportunities?
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How can technology and connectivity create long lasting and sustainable economic opportunities that lead to durable peace and stability?