BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a51099b6ee98 DTSTART:20210312T130000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20210312T143000Z LOCATION:Online\, Switzerland SUMMARY:eTrade for all virtual high-level policy dialogue on the developmen t challenges of COVID-19 CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:Development Challenges of COVID-19: What Role can E-commerce a nd Digital Trade Play?\n\nThe COVID-19 pandemic dominated global economic development during 2020. Restrictions on movement and other interventions to preserve public health reduced economic activity in most sectors and co untries\, affecting production\, distribution and consumption. The pandemi c also accelerated digital transformations in unprecedented and unforeseen ways. Digital solutions helped people and businesses to continue some eco nomic and social activities remotely.\n\nOne result has been a surge in e- commerce\, with long-term implications. While enabling more transactions – both business-to-business and business-to-consumer –it is also clear that many digital divides will need to be addressed in order to avoid wid ening inequalities.\n\nAgainst this background\, a group of eTrade for all partners joined forces to study the impact of COVID-19 on e-commerce and digital trade in various regions of the world\; what barriers countries an d business have faced when trying to leverage digital solutions\; what pol icy responses have been taken\; and – not least important – what we co uld do better to support countries that are the least equipped to manage d igital transformations.\n\nAs a result of this collective effort\, a globa l report and 4 regional reports have been prepared. This High-Level Policy Dialogue will unpack the major findings of these reports\, learn about go od practices implemented by governments and businesses in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and discuss possible policy efforts to be consid ered in the recovery phase.\n\nThe Dialogue will recall the growing releva nce of the eTrade for all initiative\, which has emerged as a trusted sour ce of information\, contacts and resources for developing countries throug h its digital hub and to catalyze partnership among its partners.\n\nThe e vent will consider how governments\, businesses\, consumers\, and the deve lopment community at large\, can come together to ensure that e-commerce p lays a positive and powerful role in national and global recovery efforts. How can scarce resources be best used to enhance the digital readiness of countries and to put digitalization at the heart of development.\n\nThis event is hosted online and is open to the public.\n<\;h4 class="\;te xt-align-center\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/ etrade-all-virtual-high-level-policy-dialogue-development-challenges-covid -19 DTSTAMP:20260710T150251Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR