BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a4da8cac8d4e DTSTART:20251021T093000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20251021T110000Z LOCATION:Geneva\, Switzerland SUMMARY:UNCTAD16 ministerial roundtable: Making the digital economy inclusi ve and sustainable through cooperation CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:Digitalization is evolving at a high speed\, reshaping economie s\, trade and development paths. Digitalization offers significant opportu nities related to innovation\, efficiency and new business models\, yet is also deepening existing divides in access to digital technologies and dat a and in digital capabilities. At the same time\, the environmental footpr int of digital growth is coming under increased scrutiny. UNCTAD is influe ncing related policy debates. Its work on data governance contributed to t he decision by Member States to establish a dedicated working group under the Commission on Science and Technology for Development. UNCTAD is also c o-leading the implementation of the Global Digital Compact in the areas of inclusive digital economy and data governance. In addition\, in 2025\, UN CTAD is the chair of the United Nations Group on the Information Society.D iscussions at this round table explored how to ensure that the evolving di gital economy becomes a driver of both inclusiveness and sustainability. C ritical policy options and cooperation mechanisms at the national\, region al and international levels were examined. In addition\, discussions consi dered how UNCTAD and partners can support countries in building resilient digital ecosystems that bridge divides\, improve data governance\, promote innovation and foster greater circularity.Watch the ministerial roundtabl e on the digital economy:ProgrammeOpening remarks: Rebeca Grynspan\, Secre tary-General\, UNCTADPanel 1: Digitalization challenges and harnessing ben efits from digital tradeQuestionsWhat are the pressing challenges of rapid digitalization with regard to inclusion and sustainable outcomes that nee d to be addressed?What should be done to enable developing countries to be nefit more from data\, electronic commerce and digital trade?SpeakersArnol do André Tinoco\, Minister of Foreign Affairs\, Costa RicaArrmanatha Chri stiawan Nasir\, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs\, IndonesiaAna Isabel Xa vier\, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation\, PortugalDe emah AlYahya\, Secretary General\, Digital Cooperation OrganizationPanel 2 : Global support and digital cooperationQuestionsWhat kind of internationa l support is needed to ensure that digitalization brings benefits for all and contributes to protecting the planet?How can the implementation of the Global Digital Compact\, as well as the 20-year review of the implementat ion of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society\, advan ce global digital cooperation?SpeakersMajid bin Abdullah Al-Kassabi\, Mini ster of Commerce\, Saudi ArabiaMthuli Ncube\, Minister of Finance\, Econom ic Development and Investment Promotion\, ZimbabweDeborah Rivas Saavedra\, Vice Minister of International Trade and Foreign Investment\, CubaAngelin e Tham\, Founder and CEO\, Angkas\, and UNCTAD eTrade for Women Advocate f or South-East Asia and the PacificModerator: Isabelle Kumar\, Journalist a nd Professional ModeratorFormat: Davos-style<\;p>\;Digitalization is e volving at a high speed\, reshaping economies\, trade and development path s. Digitalization offers significant opportunities related to innovation\, efficiency and new business models\, yet is also deepening existing divid es in access to digital technologies and data and in digital capabilities. At the same time\, the environmental footprint of digital growth is comin g under increased scrutiny. UNCTAD is influencing related policy debates. Its work on data governance contributed to the decision by Member States t o establish a dedicated working group under the Commission on Science and Technology for Development. UNCTAD is also co-leading the implementation o f the Global Digital Compact in the areas of inclusive digital economy and data governance. In addition\, in 2025\, UNCTAD is the chair of the Unite d Nations Group on the Information Society.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Discussi ons at this round table explored how to ensure that the evolving digital e conomy becomes a driver of both inclusiveness and sustainability. Critical policy options and cooperation mechanisms at the national\, regional and international levels were examined. In addition\, discussions considered h ow UNCTAD and partners can support countries in building resilient digital ecosystems that bridge divides\, improve data governance\, promote innova tion and foster greater circularity.<\;/p>\;<\;h3>\;Watch the mini sterial roundtable on the digital economy:<\;/h3>\;<\;div class=&quo t\;ratio ratio-16x9 mb-3\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org /unctad16/ministerial-roundtable-making-digital-economy-inclusive-and-sust ainable-through DTSTAMP:20260708T013258Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR