ITC @ WTO Public Forum 2022

Organizers: ITC, Permanent Mission of Mexico, WTO Informal Working Group on MSMEs

This session explores key digital platforms and resources designed specifically to assist MSMEs in making informed and sustainable business decisions, getting access to finance, finding the right business partners, and successfully completing their export transaction. It looks at concrete tools and initiatives that focus on connecting MSMEs to regional and global markets.

Organizers: ITC, UNECA

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is set to change Africa’s production and trade landscape. To ensure sustainable gains from the Agreement, complementary interventions will be required to support Africa’s MSMEs to compete in a new green world. How can African policymakers set the rules of the game to ensure that implementation of the AfCFTA furthers sustainability goals? What supports are required to ensure that African MSMEs can go green? How can Africa’s business support organisations be strengthened to enhance their sustainability offering to MSMEs?

Organizer: WTO

Addressing the climate crisis should be at the core of any economic recovery plan. The debate will bring together leading representatives from international organisations, the private sector and academia, to discuss how trade can accelerate the transition to a net-zero future. The panel will discuss how trade rules can be strengthened to address the environmental challenges the world is facing. The panellists will also deliberate on the need for a coordinated approach amongst governments.

Organizers: ITC, WTO; Supported by: United Kingdom’s Institute of Export and International Trade

The objective of the panel is to showcase the importance of women entering traditionally male-dominated sectors, and to understand the barriers and opportunities they face within these fields. We are also looking at underlying reasons why there is a dearth of women working in the world’s most profitable sectors such as STEM fields, automotive industries, aerospace, manufacturing, and finance.

Organizers: ITC, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth
The launch session is followed by a cocktail.

Four sectors are key to a services-led transformation, “connected services”. ICT, transport and logistics, financial and business and professional services directly contribute to economic growth with an increasing share of output, trade and jobs. They also contribute indirectly by making other firms more competitive and connecting them to global value chains and digital innovations. Most small firms in developing countries do not have easy access to connected services. This session explores how large companies, policymakers and business support organizations can change this reality, invest more in services, and lay the foundations for an inclusive, services-led transformation

Organizers: ITC, The Gambia, W20, WE Act Initiative

Placing women at the heart of our efforts to ‘build back better’ can help ensure a sustainable and inclusive recovery. Governments spend $9 trillion USD on public procurement every year; however, women account for only 1% of public procurement opportunities worldwide. This event will focus on supporting increased women’s participation in public procurement globally. Panellists will share the experiences of their countries and discuss lessons learned to facilitate knowledge sharing and inspire countries interested in creating new programmes.