BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a72135bb1f00 DTSTART:20251023T080000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20251023T110000Z LOCATION:Geneva\, Switzerland SUMMARY:UNCTAD16 south-south cooperation forum CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:The economic dynamics of the global South have changed substant ially over the past decades. South–South trade has been a major driver o f global trade\, with its value expanding tenfold over the last three deca des. UNCTAD has played a historical role in promoting South–South dialog ue and trade. Among other initiatives\, the Global System of Trade Prefere nces provides a unique framework for interregional trade cooperation and s ustainable development among developing countries.While South–South coop eration has proven instrumental for inclusive structural transformation\, lack of data has kept its contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development largely invisible. This is now changing with the initial conce ptual framework for the measurement of South–South cooperation developed by the global South. Through the United Nations Statistical Commission\, countries asked UNCTAD to test this framework and enable South–South dat a reporting for the Sustainable Development Goals.Against this backdrop\, this forum offers an opportunity to take stock of the evolution of South –South cooperation and to discuss future priorities in the context of ra pid technological change\, environmental concerns and rising uncertainties that reshape development prospects.ProgrammeOpening remarks:Luz Maria de la Mora\, Director of the Division on International Trade and Commodities\ , UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)Panel 1: South–South cooperation - se tting prioritiesParticipants at this forum session will reflect on the ach ievements and the way forward for South–South cooperation\, including on existing or missing coordinating mechanisms and institutions. The sessio n will include an exchange on past experiences with and expectations about South–South cooperation between senior policymakers at the sixteenth se ssion of the Conference\, emphasizing the regional aspects as challenges a nd enablers for South–South cooperation.Questions:What has been achieved by South–South cooperation and through which main modalities and activi ties?What role would be best for the global South to play in shaping a new global development paradigm that is equitable\, sustainable and resilient ?What is required to further strengthen South–South cooperation and incl usive structural transformation in the global South? Is there a need for i mproved coordination of South–South cooperation modalities or should Sou th–South cooperation continue to evolve spontaneously in response to nat ional and regional needs?Speakers:Kamel Rezig\, Minister of Foreign Trade and Export Promotion\, People’s Democratic Republic of AlgeriaDeborah Ri vas Saveedra\, Vice Minister of International Trade and Foreign Investment \, Ministry of International Trade and Foreign Investment\, Republic of Cu baFebrian A. Ruddyard\, Vice Minister of National Development Planning\, M inistry of National Development Planning\, Republic of IndonesiaWilliam Ca stillo Bollé\, Vice Minister of Anti-Blockade Policies\, Ministry of Peop le'\;s Power for Economy\, Finance\, and Foreign Trade\, Bolivarian Re public of VenezuelaYuefen Li\, Senior Advisor on South-South Cooperation a nd Development Finance\, South Centre\, GenevaModerator:Stephanie Blankenb urg\, Chief\, Economic Cooperation and Integration among Developing Countr ies Branch\, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)Remarks: Pedro Manuel Moren o\,  Deputy Secretary-General of UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Panel 2: South–South trade partnership for accelerating the Sustainable Devel opment GoalsParticipants at the forum session will discuss how South–Sou th trade cooperation\, particularly the Global System of Trade Preferences \, can provide a viable avenue for economic growth and diversification in times of global trade uncertainties.Questions:What is the significance of the South–South trade partnership in today’s multi-polar world?In whic h policy areas or sectors does South–South trade cooperation become most effective in enabling developing countries to leverage trade for sustaina ble development?How can UNCTAD assist member states in deepening trade coo peration – particularly through frameworks like the Global System of Tra de Preferences – to promote sustainable trade and development?Speakers:O mar Zniber\, Ambassador to the United Nations Office in Geneva\, Governmen t of the Kingdom of MoroccoCésar Sánchez Icaza\, Under-Secretary of Fore ign Trade Policy\, Ministry of Production\, Foreign Trade\, and Investment \, Government of EcuadorDaniela Arruda Benjamin\, Director\, Department of Regional Integration\, Ministry of Foreign Affairs\, Government of Brazil Vanessa Erogbogbo\, Director of Sustainable and Inclusive Trade\, Internat ional Trade CentreModerator:Miho Shirotori\, Chief\, Trading system\, Serv ices and Creative Economy Branch\, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Pane l 3: Quantifying South–South cooperationFor too long\, South–South coo peration was the only major form of development cooperation that was not s ystematically measured. The forum session will provide an update for memb er States on progress and findings from the first set of South–South dat a and a discussion on how to ensure that South–South cooperation\, infor med by data provided by the global South\, counts in future debates.Questi ons:What progress has been achieved in the measurement of South–South co operation? How can the proper collection and use of data improve decision- making?Can data gathered by the global South reshape development narrative s and enhance collective resilience in the face of global shocks?How can U NCTAD\, partners and countries best support developing economies to build inclusive data ecosystems?Speakers:Juhara Abdulaziz Al-Suwaidi\, Deputy Pe rmanent Representative\, Mission of Qatar to the United Nations Office in GenevaSanjay Kumar Verma\, Chairman\, Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS)Márcio Lopes Corrêa\, Head of the Coordination for Multilateral Cooperation\, Brazilian Cooperation Agency\, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. BrazilEmmanuel Omokhomion\, Lead Data Scientist\, Nation al Bureau of Statistics\, NigeriaModerator:Manuela Vivas\, South-South Coo peration Data Team\, Agencia Presidencial de Cooperación Internacional de Colombia (APC Colombia)Closing remarks:Stephanie Blankenburg\, Chief\, Ec onomic Cooperation and Integration among Developing Countries Branch\, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)<\;p>\;The economic dynamics of the glob al South have changed substantially over the past decades. South–South t rade has been a major driver of global trade\, with its value expanding te nfold over the last three decades. UNCTAD has played a historical role in promoting South–South dialogue and trade. Among other initiatives\, the Global System of Trade Preferences provides a unique framework for interre gional trade cooperation and sustainable development among developing coun tries.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;While South–South cooperation has proven in strumental for inclusive structural transformation\, lack of data has kept its contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development largely i nvisible. This is now changing with the initial conceptual framework for t he measurement of South–South cooperation developed by the global South. Through the United Nations Statistical Commission\, countries asked UNCTA D to test this framework and enable South–South data reporting for the S ustainable Development Goals.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Against this backdrop\ , this forum offers an opportunity to take stock of the evolution of South –South cooperation and to discuss future priorities in the context of ra pid technological change\, environmental concerns and rising uncertainties that reshape development prospects.<\;/p>\;<\;h3>\;Programme<\; /h3>\;<\;p>\;Opening remarks:<\;/p>\;<\;ul>\;<\;li data-li st-item-id="\;e28e130a35719ac1309759b44b16ca86e\n\nView meeting on unc tad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/node/49516 DTSTAMP:20260804T162915Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR