Stories

Addressing inequalities through trade

26 juin 2019
ITC News
ITC participated in the EU flagship development forum. The focus this year was on employment for all, innovation, regional integration and women empowerment in focus.

`Addressing inequalities` took centre stage at the 13th edition of the European Development Days (EDD) in Brussels, Belgium. The European Union’s flagship development forum gave the International Trade Centre (ITC) and many other development partners the opportunity for an exchange of ideas and experiences that inspired new partnerships and innovative solutions to the world’s pressing challenges.

‘We need to find a consensus […], a multilateral approach that will help us having a poverty free world by 2030 and making sure no one is left behind’, said Arancha González, ITC Executive Director at the forum.

ITC participated in a series of activities on how ‘good trade’ reduces inequalities.

Connecting the unconnected to markets

An innovative approach that ITC presented was about delivering market-based solutions for economic opportunities in the context of displacement. Visitors had the opportunity to connect online via Skype chats, with dedicated online freelancers from refugee camps in Kakuma and Dadaab, Kenya and the Gaza strip. They were able to share insights online about their lives and how they generated incomes through digital skills.

Live from the Gambia, young app developer Hassan y Jallow gave attendees a glimpse of dream accommodation for their next trip to the Smiling Coast with Deka, an online room-booking app for the Gambia.

‘Deka is user-friendly and the VR goggles make you feel like you are actually in the Gambia, visiting the listings from there. Investors should really get interested in such technological apps. We need to move into the 21st century’, said Rejoice Namale an EDD young leader from Malawi.

More economic integration, more growth, better jobs

Participating in a series of high level discussions, ITC senior management shared insights on key elements that will support a successful and transformative African Continental Free Trade Area: ‘African governments would need a common vision and enforce policies that will help attracting investments from inside the continent. Another key element is to empower youth for making the most of digital economy’, said Ashish Shah, ITC Director for Country Programmes.

European Development Day (EDD)

The EDD this year, welcomed 8,700 participants over two days. H.E. Paul Kagame, the President of Rwanda; H.E. Macky Sall, the President of Senegal and Dr. Lotay Tshering, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bhutan attended the event.

EDD 19 invited 15 exceptional young leaders from Africa, Asia and Latin America to bring fresh perspectives to panel discussions.

Organized by the European Commission since 2006, the European Development Day has established itself as a key fixture in the development world’s calendar and is now widely considered as the 'Davos of Development'.