Technical Session: South–South Digital Cooperation to Boost Trade Competitiveness - A pre-event to BAPA+40 Conference

This technical session is a pre-event to the Second High-level United Nations Conference on South South Cooperation (BAPA+40), which will take plae in Buenos aires, Argentina from 20-22 march 2019.

Objective

The main purpose of the technical session is to discuss ways to boost trade competitiveness of developing countries in the context of Industry 4.0 and ensure that the South–South digital cooperation agenda makes global trade more inclusive.

The session will provide a platform for stakeholders from diverse regions and areas to discuss the policies developing countries need to boost their trade competitiveness in the digital era and how the South–South digital cooperation agenda can help developing countries build their digital infrastructures and digital capacities with regional support.

Format

The event will bring together international experts from diverse areas and organizations, including representatives of member States, industry, civil society organizations, the United Nations system, international partners and academia, as well as members of the media.

Issues of Discussion

• What are the implications of Industry 4.0 on trade competitiveness of developing countries?

• What are targeted policies/strategies that countries in the South need to consider in order to avail the opportunities and face the challenges of Industry 4.0?

• How can South-South digital cooperation and sharing of experiences help South to boost its trade competitiveness?

• What are the ways to facilitate North-South digital technology transfers to boost trade competitiveness?

• Do the developing countries have the policy space to design national and regional policies for developing their digital capacities?

The Panel:

• Ms. Rashmi Banga, Senior Economic Affairs Officer, ECIDC-GDS, UNCTAD

• Ms. Aileen Kwa, Coordinator, Trade for Development Programme, South Centre, Geneva

• Mr. Abhijit Das, Head and Professor, Centre for WTO Studies, India

• Ms. Burcu Kilic, Research and Policy Director, Access to Medicines, Innovation and Information, Public Citizen

Moderator:

• Mr. François Xavier Ngarambe, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Rwanda to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva