In today's fast changing political and economic landscape, many countries are grappling with the impact of the digital economy and the opportunities it presents for global growth and inclusive development.
A huge gap has opened up between countries and firms that are able to seize these opportunities and those that cannot. And the existing platforms and rules for global trade are highly skewed towards the interests of large corporations, leaving few opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises, accounting for about 80 per cent of all businesses, to benefit from the new opportunities.
This is particularly the case for young entrepreneurs, women in business and entrepreneurs from other vulnerable groups.
During the two hours interactive dialogue, speakers will touch upon new ways of development leveraging technologies and e-commerce for sustainable development.
The session will be moderated by Nancy Kacungira, news anchor and journalist, International African Woman of the Year Award in 2016 and BBC News Komly Dumor Award in 2015.
Speakers:
- Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General of UNCTAD
- Jack Ma, Special Adviser to UNCTAD for young entrepreneurs and small business and founder and chairman of Alibaba Group
- Roberto Azevêdo, Director-General of WTO
- Houlin Zhao, Secretary-General of ITU
- Susana Malcorra, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Argentina
- Lyonpo Lekey Dorji, Minister for Economic Affairs of Bhutan
- Sorasak Pan, Minister of Commerce of Cambodia
- Alexander Mora, Minister for Foreign Trade of Costa Rica
- Juan Sebastian Viteri Guillen, Vice Minister of of Production, Employment and Competitiveness, Ecuador
- Adan Mohamed, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Co-operatives of Kenya
- Okechukwu Enelamah, Federal Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment of Nigeria
- Khurram Dastgir Khan, Minister of Commerce of Pakistan
- Alioune Sarr, Minister of Trade, Industry and the Informal Sector of Senegal
- Winichai Chaemchaeng, Vice-Minister of Commerce of Thailand
- Amanda Long, Director General of Consumers International
Other speakers include: representatives of governments and international organizations, captains of industry, entrepreneurs, civil society, academia and youth.
