BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:69adb2d0d2528 DTSTART:20250429T130000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20250429T160000Z LOCATION:Geneva\, Switzerland SUMMARY:Special event: Hidden assets – from illicit finance to developmen t gains CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) drain resources from development \, fueling money laundering\, corruption\, and economic instability. These - often hidden- financial movements imperil domestic resource mobilizatio n\, undermine the rule of law\, and are difficult to track and measure. UN CTAD works closely with leading global experts through the Task Force on t he Statistical Measurement of IFFs. Recent academic research highlights th at IFFs are not only tied to illegal activities but can be embedded in reg ular economic transactions\, including tax avoidance and profit shifting. These practices deepen asymmetries in international finance\, erode domest ic revenue bases in developing countries\, and hinder progress towards sus tainable development by diverting critical resources needed for economic a nd social advancement.UNCTAD and UN SDG Action Campaign are co-hosting thi s session to bring together leading academics as well as experts from UN S DG Action Campaign and UNCTAD to discuss the impact of IFFs on economic de velopment and policies to combat IFFs. The seminar will feature three them atic discussions about the role of the asset management sector in the glob al network of illicit finance\, the function of specific enablers in this system and regulatory tools and policies available to developing countries seeking to combat IFFs and secure long-term finance for development.This special event will be held during the 15th session of the Trade and Develo pment Commission. The views presented by the invited speakers do not neces sarily reflect the official position of UNCTAD and UN SDG.ProgrammeOpening remarksMs. Rebeca Grynspan\, Secretary-General of UNCTAD (TBC)Ms. Luz Ma De La Mora\, Director\, Division on International Trade and Commodities\, UNCTADMs. Marina Ponti\, Global Director\, United Nations SDG Action Campa ignMs. Anastasia Nesvetailova\, Head\, Macroeconomic and Development Polic ies Branch\, UNCTAD (Chair) Session 1: New Risks of Financialization: Per spectives from developing regionsChenai Mukumba\, Executive Director of th e Tax Justice Network Africa.The Political Economy of Africa’s links wit h Asian International Financial Centresby Ricardo Soares de Oliveira\, CER I Sciences Po.Spiderweb Capitalism: Secret Financial Webs Built by the Ult ra-Wealthyby Kimberly Kay Hoang\, University of ChicagoHow professional se rvice firms shape development and access to FDIs in Africa and Latin Ameri caby Corentin Cohen\, University of OxfordSession 2: Illicit Financial Flo ws: State of Play and Policy DirectionsNet Income Resource Transferby Pene lope Hawkins\, Head\, Debt and Development Finance Branch\, UNCTADRanking the Illicit World: How International Rankings Can Better Support Global Go vernance Effortsby Alexander Cooley\, Columbia UniversityOffshore Experts and State Captureby Brooke Harrington\, Dartmouth CollegeIdentifying and p rosecuting '\;kleptocratic enterprises'\;: challenges and opportun itiesby John Heathershaw\, University of ExeterSession 3: Asset Management and Economic DevelopmentTracking IIFs: a statistician’s perspectiveby A nu Peltola\, Director\, UNCTAD Statistics OfficeEngaging the Private Secto r in the Recovery of Corrupt Assetsby Jason Sharman\, University of Cambri dgeWho Hides? Identifying Patterns in the Ownership of Expensive Property through Offshore Financial Centersby Kristin Surak\, London School of Econ omicsNew Regulatory Tools in Corporate Arbitrage: Implications for Develop ing Countriesby Jean-Philippe Robé\, Sciences Po Law SchoolParticipationT he Commission is open to all member States of UNCTAD. Specialized agencies \, intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental organizations (general an d special category) are also eligible to participate as observers.Registra tionOnline registration is mandatory for all those wishing to attend the s ession and is required in order to be included in the list of participants .<\;p>\;Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) drain resources from developmen t\, fueling money laundering\, corruption\, and economic instability. Thes e - often hidden- financial movements imperil domestic resource mobilizati on\, undermine the rule of law\, and are difficult to track and measure. U NCTAD works closely with leading global experts through the Task Force on the Statistical Measurement of IFFs. Recent academic research highlights t hat IFFs are not only tied to illegal activities but can be embedded in re gular economic transactions\, including tax avoidance and profit shifting. These practices deepen asymmetries in international finance\, erode domes tic revenue bases in developing countries\, and hinder progress towards su stainable development by diverting critical resources needed for economic and social advancement.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;UNCTAD and UN SDG Action Cam paign are co-hosting this session to bring together leading academics as w ell as experts from UN SDG Action Campaign and UNCTAD to discuss the impac t of IFFs on economic development and policies to combat IFFs. The seminar will feature three thematic discussions about the role of the asset manag ement sector in the global network of illicit finance\, the function of sp ecific enablers in this system and regulatory tools and policies available to developing countries seeking to combat IFFs and secure long-term finan ce for development.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;This special event will be held during the 15th session of the Trade and Development Commission. The views presented by the invited speakers do not necessarily reflect the official position of UNCTAD and UN SDG.<\;/p>\;<\;h4>\;<\;strong>\;Pro gramme<\;/strong>\;<\;/h4>\;<\;p>\;Opening remarks<\;/p>\; <\;ul>\;<\;li>\;<\;strong>\;Ms. Rebeca Grynspan<\;/strong> \;\, Secretary-General of UNCTAD (TBC)<\;/li>\;<\;li>\;<\;strong >\;Ms. Luz Ma De La Mora<\;/strong>\;\, Director\, Division on Inter national Trade and Commodities\, UNCTAD<\;/li>\;<\;li>\;<\;stron g>\;Ms. Marina Ponti<\;/strong>\;\, Global Director\, United Nations SDG Action Campaign<\;/li>\;<\;li>\;<\;strong>\;Ms. Anastasia Nesvetailova<\;/strong>\;\, Head\, Macroeconomic and Development Poli cies Branch\, UNCTAD (Chair)<\;br>\;&\;nbsp\;<\;/li>\;<\;/ul& gt\;<\;p>\;<\;span style="\;background-color:#fff\;color:#0077b8 \;\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/special-event -hidden-assets-illicit-finance-development-gains DTSTAMP:20260308T173304Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR