ITC @ WTO Public Forum 2023

Conversations on the Trade, Global Economy and Climate Nexus

• Tuesday 12 September / 10:00-11:15
• Organized by: Permanent Mission of the UAE
• This opening session of the 2023 Public Forum session is poised to be a forward-looking exchange among visionary leaders who are actively shaping the trajectory of global trade.

A Just and Inclusive Climate Transition for Small Business

• Thursday 14 September / 17:00-1815 / Room D
• Co-organized with the Caribbean Development Bank
• Small businesses suffer disproportionately from climate change, especially those led by women, young people and indigenous people. A truly Just Transition needs to address issues of equity, economic development, and social and labour inclusion.
• Featuring:
  • Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director, ITC
  • Hyginus "Gene" Leon, President, Caribbean Development Bank
  • Tasneem Essop, Director, Climate Action Network
  • Marike de Peña, President, Latin American and Caribbean Network of Fair Trade Small Producers and Workers (CLAC)
  • Jerry Spooner, Executive Director, Regenerative Vanua

Driving Africa’s Green Transition: The AfCFTA as a catalyst for environmentally friendly production, trade and consumption

• Thursday 14 September / 17:00-16:15 / Room S1
• The AfCFTA offers an opening for setting up a policy framework for advancing environmentally friendly production, trade and consumption. In this session, policymakers, international organizations and business actors will discuss how the AfCFTA can drive environmentally sustainable trade.
• Featuring:
  • Dorothy Tembo, Deputy Executive Director, ITC (as moderator)
  • Jayasurya Kalakkal, Environment and Trade Expert, UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
  • H.E. Prof. Muhammadou M.O. Kah, Ambassador to Switzerland and Permanent Representative to UNOG at Geneva, WTO and Other International Organizations in Switzerland, The Gambia
  • Peter Nyeko, Co-founder and CEO, Mandulis Energy
  • Colette Van der Ven, Founder and Director, TULIP Consulting#
• Tune in online at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho4cHEUUCc4 

ITC will also host a booth located in the Delegate’s Lounge adjacent to the WTO Atrium featuring green and digital solutions including ITC market intelligence tools for eco-friendly products.

A special showcase on “AI for Greener Trade” features Babacar Birane of Senegal demonstrating his exciting new startup: Adia, by CONCREE. Adia is an AI-powered idea generator, which empowers aspiring entrepreneurs to develop viable, sustainable business models that address today's climate challenges. 

• ePing: A One-Stop-Shop to Track Evolving Product Regulations Around the World

  • 14 September / 09:00-10:15 / Room A
  • Organized by: WTO
  • Governments around the world are exploring novel regulations to achieve environmental objectives. With a fast-paced, evolving regulatory environment, it can be a challenge for stakeholders to keep up. Come find out how ePing assists in following these developments and engage in discussions at the intersection of environmental regulation and trade.
  • Featuring: Cintia De Lima Cardoso, Trade and Market Intelligence, ITC

• A Green Trade Agenda for Africa - Towards a Transformative Trade Approach to Strengthen Africa's Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Resilience

  • 14 September / 09:00-10:15 / Room W
  • African countries contribute the least to global warming, but are among the world's most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Investments in adaptation and mitigation measures that facilitates sustainable trade, can yield high economic dividends for African Nations. This session will focus on how the four transformational pillars of Regulations and Policies, Infrastructure, Digitalisation, and Finance, can facilitate green trade in Africa.
  • Featuring: Ludmila Azo, Country Manager, ITC

• Trade Finance for a Sustainable Future: Overcoming Challenges and Fostering Inclusive Global Trade

  • 14 September / 15:15-16:30 / Room W
  • Organized by: International Chamber of Commerce
  • In this session, an expert panel will discuss sustainable trade finance, explore how banks are fostering inclusive lending practices, and exchange views on how to ensure financing opportunities remain accessible MSMEs.
  • Featuring: Joseph Wozniak, Head, Trade for Sustainable Development, ITC
     

• Traceability as the Key Enabler for Improving Sustainability of the Cotton Value Chains

  • 15 September / 09:00-10:15 / Room D
  • Organized by: Better Cotton
  • This panel will explore the opportunity presented by traceability for green cotton supply chains, the importance of good data, and the need for accessible and inclusive approaches that work for SMEs as well as large multinational organizations.
  • Featuring: Gregory Sampson, Solutions Architect, ITC
     

• Technical and Regulatory Barriers to Trade: Why international digital services standards matter for sustainable trade

  • 15 September / 09:00-10:15 / Room F
  • Organized by: Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations
  • This session highlights the importance of ensuring that the regulation of digital services is rooted in common standards to harness the benefits of technological interoperability.
  • Featuring: Quan Zhao, Trade Policy Officer in the Division of Market Development, ITC
     

• Pay attention! AfCFTA tariff schedules from a human rights perspective

  • 15 September / 14:15-15:30 / Room S3
  • Organized by: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
  • What have tariff schedules to do with human rights? Are tariff schedules gender neutral? Do they support expanded trade of environmental goods such as renewable energy and green technologies? This session seeks to answer these questions.
  • Featuring: Lily Sommer, Programme Manager, One Trade Africa Programme, ITC
     

• AfCFTA implementation for the establishment of sustainable African businesses

  • 15 September / 16:00-17:15 / Room E
  • Organized by: Africa Export Import Bank (Afreximbank)
  • The panel discussion, anchored on the 2023 PAFTRAC CEO Trade Survey, will discuss the key private sector-led inclusive policies needed to realize the full potential of the AfcFTA and realize the AU's Africa we Want agenda 2063.
  • Featuring: Aissatou Diallo, Chief of the Office for Africa, ITC