BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a8c381bf234b DTSTART:20211123T163000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20211123T174500Z LOCATION:Online\, SUMMARY:Policy Dialogue: Building gender-inclusive digital ecosystems in La tin America and the Caribbean CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:In this Policy Dialogue entitled "\;Building gender-inclusi ve digital ecosystems in Latin America and the Caribbean"\;\, represen tatives from major donor institutions women digital entrepreneurs\, and po licymakers from across Latin America and the Caribbean will discuss how to boost digital entrepreneurship and open more opportunities to all\, to sh ape sustainable and inclusive digital ecosystems.\n\nThe potential of the digital economy on the road to recovery\n\nAs countries in Latin America a nd the Caribbean face a steep climb to economic recovery\, the rapid sprea d of digital tools triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic offers many opportun ities for SME growth. Since the onset of the crisis\, the region’s digit alization process has jumped years forward with an increasing number of pe ople and businesses turning to teleworking and online shopping\, and e-com merce penetration rates surging. Data from the Digital Economy in Latin Am erica and the Caribbean project indicate that between April and May 2020\, business websites increased by 800% in Colombia and Mexico and by around 360% in Brazil and Chile.\n\nPersisting barriers to digitalization\n\nYet\ , such a rapid spread has also put into light persisting barriers to e-com merce and digital entrepreneurship across the region\, such as connectivit y issues\, insufficient logistics infrastructures\, limited access to capi tal\, or lack of digital skills - with large discrepancies between rural a nd urban areas. The pandemic has tended to exacerbate existing gender ineq ualities\, as the crisis amplified barriers for women trying to access dig ital solutions and enter into e-commerce. If left unaddressed\, the gap be tween those able to take advantage of digital solutions\, and those who ar e not\, will widen\, depriving the region from significant development gai ns.\n\nDigital transformation must be accelerated to allow businesses and consumers to adapt to a new normal and leverage the recovery to create str ong economies\, while tackling long-standing barriers to adopting digital technologies and bridging digital divides. These have impeded sustained an d inclusive economic growth even before the pandemic. The COVID-19 crisis should act as a "\;wake-up call"\; for governments\, the private s ector\, the civil society and the international community to come together and take concerted actions for sustainable and inclusive development agen das.\n\nTopics to be discussed\n\nIn this session\, panellists will discus s the following topics:\n\n\nWhat are the main barriers countries and busi nesses in LAC economies face when trying to leverage digital solutions in COVID-19 times? What policy responses and innovative measures have been pu t in place to support the digital transformation? What could be done bette r?\n\n\n\nHow are women digital entrepreneurs contributing to the digital transformation across the region? How can they help unlock the potential o f e-commerce and digital trade?\n\n\n\nWhat role can Governments and the i nternational community play to support the digital industry in Latin Ameri ca in a way that benefits all?\n\n\nSpeakers\n\n\nJohan Mulder\, Chief\, I nternational Trade Unit\, UN ECLAC\nSetting the scene: Disruptions and opp ortunities in Latin America and the Caribbean’s digital ecosystems\n\n\n Panelists:\n\n\nCinthya Game\, Vice Minister of Education\, Ecuador\nMagda lena Coronel\, Chief Investment Officer\, IDB Lab\nMaria Luisa Boyce\, Vic e President\, UPS Global Public Affairs\nPierangela Sierra\, eTrade for Wo men Advocate\, Founder and CEO\, Tipti\nIlena Rosario Roriguez\, Director \, Directorate for Trade Policy\, Ministry of Industry\, Trade and MSMEs\, Dominican Republic \n\n\nModerator:\n\n\nTom Azzopardi\, Correspondent\, Bloomberg Industry Group\, Chile\n\n\n\neTrade for Women \n\nThis Policy Dialogue is part of theeTrade-for-Women Masterclass for Latin America and the Caribbean hosted by UNCTAD under the theme: "\;Women digital entre preneurs: Unlock your potential for growth"\; from Monday 22 to Wednes day 24 November 2021\, to train\, inspire and connect women digital entrep reneurs from the region.\nhttps://etradeforall.org/masterclass/2021-latina merica/\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/policy-d ialogue-building-gender-inclusive-digital-ecosystems-latin-america-and-car ibbean DTSTAMP:20260824T122459Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR