BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a7359127ff57 DTSTART:20130225T120000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20130225T115900Z LOCATION:Geneva\, Switzerland SUMMARY:Multi-year Expert Meeting on Trade\, Services and Development\, fir st session CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:The Doha Mandate\, adopted at UNCTAD XIII\, stresses that devel opment of services and access to them\, supported by adequate regulatory a nd institutional frameworks\, is important for sound socioeconomic develop ment.The objective of the expert meeting is to identify best-fit practices in regard to policymaking\, regulations\, institutions and trade negotiat ions\, with a view to linking services\, trade and development in a balanc ed manner\, including a strengthening of national services regulation with out creating trade barriers.The infrastructure services sectors\, which en compass transport\, telecommunications\, energy and financial services\, c onstitute the backbone of the economy in all countries and contribute dire ctly and indirectly to growth\, income generation and better living standa rds. These sectors also assume an important social function\, as access to basic services (including electricity\, gas\, and safe drinking water)\, financial inclusion and the bridging of the digital divide\, are catalytic to achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Weak infrastructure s ervices sectors often hamper the development of other services sectors\, i ncluding tourism\, distribution and services relating to information and c ommunications technology\, especially in the least developed countries and in small and vulnerable economies.The first session of the expert meeting will examine cases of building regulatory and institutional competence wi th a focus on factors leading to success and lessons learned so as to addr ess bottlenecks in building the supply capacity of services in developing countries. This will help to identify best practices in overcoming challen ges to regulatory and institutional frameworks with a view to enhancing th e provision capacity\, efficiency and competitiveness of the infrastructur e services sectors.The issues that experts will address will include the f ollowing:What is the link between the infrastructure services sectors and other economic sectors\, including other services sectors?How best can reg ulations be made conducive to attracting and sustaining investment in infr astructure?How should functional criteria for benchmarking the performance of services providers be set?How should regulators adapt regulation to ch anging market conditions and to technological developments?What tools shou ld be used to ensure and promote universal access in different infrastruct ure services sectors?What role can regulators play in promoting the indust rial development of particular sectors?How can regulators exercise indepen dence in decision-making when they are affiliated with a government minist ry?Target participantsExperts to be invited to the multi-year expert meeti ng will include those from government ministries and agencies dealing with trade\, trade negotiations\, policymaking and regulations of specific ser vices sectors\, research institutions\, civil society and the private sect or\, including coalitions and associations of services industries.Input fr om expertsExperts nominated by member States are encouraged to submit brie f papers (approximately 5–12 pages) as contributions to the work of the meeting. The papers will be made available at the meeting in the form and language in which they are received.They should be submitted to the UNCTAD secretariat in advance of the meeting\, and addressed to Ms. Liping Zhang and Ms. Faustina Attobra-Wilson\, Palais des Nations\, CH-1211\, Switzerl and\; fax: +41 22 917 0044\; e-mail: liping.zhang@unctad.org and faustina. attobra-wilson@unctad.org.mailto:faustina.attobra-wilson@unctad.org\n\nVie w meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/multi-year-expert-meet ing-trade-services-and-development-first-session DTSTAMP:20260805T153858Z END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a7359127ff8c DTSTART:20130226T120000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20130226T115900Z LOCATION:Geneva\, Switzerland SUMMARY:Multi-year Expert Meeting on Trade\, Services and Development\, fir st session CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:The Doha Mandate\, adopted at UNCTAD XIII\, stresses that devel opment of services and access to them\, supported by adequate regulatory a nd institutional frameworks\, is important for sound socioeconomic develop ment.The objective of the expert meeting is to identify best-fit practices in regard to policymaking\, regulations\, institutions and trade negotiat ions\, with a view to linking services\, trade and development in a balanc ed manner\, including a strengthening of national services regulation with out creating trade barriers.The infrastructure services sectors\, which en compass transport\, telecommunications\, energy and financial services\, c onstitute the backbone of the economy in all countries and contribute dire ctly and indirectly to growth\, income generation and better living standa rds. These sectors also assume an important social function\, as access to basic services (including electricity\, gas\, and safe drinking water)\, financial inclusion and the bridging of the digital divide\, are catalytic to achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Weak infrastructure s ervices sectors often hamper the development of other services sectors\, i ncluding tourism\, distribution and services relating to information and c ommunications technology\, especially in the least developed countries and in small and vulnerable economies.The first session of the expert meeting will examine cases of building regulatory and institutional competence wi th a focus on factors leading to success and lessons learned so as to addr ess bottlenecks in building the supply capacity of services in developing countries. This will help to identify best practices in overcoming challen ges to regulatory and institutional frameworks with a view to enhancing th e provision capacity\, efficiency and competitiveness of the infrastructur e services sectors.The issues that experts will address will include the f ollowing:What is the link between the infrastructure services sectors and other economic sectors\, including other services sectors?How best can reg ulations be made conducive to attracting and sustaining investment in infr astructure?How should functional criteria for benchmarking the performance of services providers be set?How should regulators adapt regulation to ch anging market conditions and to technological developments?What tools shou ld be used to ensure and promote universal access in different infrastruct ure services sectors?What role can regulators play in promoting the indust rial development of particular sectors?How can regulators exercise indepen dence in decision-making when they are affiliated with a government minist ry?Target participantsExperts to be invited to the multi-year expert meeti ng will include those from government ministries and agencies dealing with trade\, trade negotiations\, policymaking and regulations of specific ser vices sectors\, research institutions\, civil society and the private sect or\, including coalitions and associations of services industries.Input fr om expertsExperts nominated by member States are encouraged to submit brie f papers (approximately 5–12 pages) as contributions to the work of the meeting. The papers will be made available at the meeting in the form and language in which they are received.They should be submitted to the UNCTAD secretariat in advance of the meeting\, and addressed to Ms. Liping Zhang and Ms. Faustina Attobra-Wilson\, Palais des Nations\, CH-1211\, Switzerl and\; fax: +41 22 917 0044\; e-mail: liping.zhang@unctad.org and faustina. attobra-wilson@unctad.org.mailto:faustina.attobra-wilson@unctad.org\n\nVie w meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/multi-year-expert-meet ing-trade-services-and-development-first-session DTSTAMP:20260805T153858Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR