WTO Public Forum

27 Sep 2016 - 29 Sep 2016

Geneva, Switzerland

Session reports

06:00 - 17:30 Bridging the digital divide to facilitate Inclusive global trade
13:00 - 14:30 Enabling human rights and inclusiveness through digital trade
13:00 - 14:30 How can ACP countries harness digital innovation as a ritical enabler for promoting inclusive trade?
16:00 - 17:30 E-commerce as a tool for inclusiveness in developing countries: Dissecting the Argentine case
09:00 - 10:30 Building the case of SDGs: What's in for women engineers & scientists? A call to act!
09:00 - 10:30 Connecting the world through digital trade
09:00 - 10:30 Electronic commerce and participation of SMEs in world trade
10:30 - 12:00 Inclusive e-commerce and cyber security: Supporting the digitalization process in french-speaking Africa
10:30 - 12:00 Updating the multilateral rulebook to foster development: Digital trade and beyond
13:00 - 14:30 The impact of digital technologies on trade in professional services
13:00 - 14:30 Implementing the SDGs and achieving inclusive trade
15:00 - 16:30 Trade and inclusive access to knowledge
15:30 - 17:00 Digital customs for improved border management and e-commerce opportunities
15:30 - 17:00 The new landscape of inclusion in digital trade
17:00 - 18:30 Business-to-business e-commerce: Trade Implications
17:00 - 18:30 New solutions to e-commerce regulatory barriers: The advent of secure transnational digital identities
17:00 - 18:30 Unlocking inclusive trade for SMEs through cross-border e-commerce
09:00 - 10:30 Boundaries and best practices for inclusive digital trade
10:30 - 12:00 E-commerce: Changing dynamics of SME growth and profitability in Asia
10:30 - 12:00 The inclusive power of digital trade: Why combatting digital protectionism is crucial to the WTO’s mission in the twenty-first century
10:30 - 12:00 Myanmar opening up for business: Agenda for inclusive trade
11:00 - Inclusive digital trade and sustainable development: Exploring creative solutions and ways forward
13:00 - 14:30 Digital trade for development: governance issues and the enabling environment
13:00 - 14:30 How to transform e-commerce into global e-trade
15:30 - 17:00 Digital trade for digital economy

Event report

The 2016 World Trade Organization (WTO) Public Forum took place on 27-29 September, at the WTO’s heardquarters in Geneva. Held under the theme ‘Inclusive Trade’, the Forum featured discussions on how to ensure that trade benefits everyone, with a particular emphasis on enabling women, innovative start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises, to take advantage of the opportunities provided by trade. The observatory provided just-in-time reporting and a final report.

Access the following resources:

Your guide to WTO Public Forum 2016:

The GIP’s WTO Public Forum Report is now available. The report, published by the Geneva Internet Platform on 3 October 2016, sums up the forum with a thematic round-up of discussions, including economic, sustainable development, and human rights-related topics. Included in the report are additional resources. Download your report.

WTO Public Forum 2016 GIP Final ReportExplore also…

Event announcement

The 2016 World Trade Organization (WTO) Public Forum will take place on 27-29 September, at the WTO’s heardquarters in Geneva. Held under the theme ‘Inclusive Trade’, the Forum will feature discussions on how to ensure that trade benefits everyone, with a particular emphasis on enabling women, innovative start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises, to take advantage of the opportunities provided by trade.

The Forum will also look at how the trading system can support innovation, and how trade and new technologies are inextricably interlinked, one fostering the other. Some of the questions to be raised will include: Can trade keep up with ever-changing technology? Does the WTO need to reform trade rules to allow members to fully benefit from innovation? How can we tackle internet governance issues? Is technological innovation a driver of development?

The programme of the Forum will include 101 sessions organised by both WTO members, as well as non-governmental organisations, academia, law firms, and international organisations. Some of the sessions will address Internet-related topics, such as: human rights and inclusiveness through digital trade, bridging the digital divide to facilitate inclusive global trade, e-commerce as a tool for inclusiveness, connecting the world through digital trade, etc.

The annual Public Forum is the WTO’s flagship event. It provides a platform for governments, the business sector, academics and non-governmental organisations to come together and discuss some of the major trade and development issues of the day. The Forum celebrates its 15 anniversary in 2016.

More details about the 2016 WTO Public Forum are available on the event webpage.
 

Join the GIP’s session on inclusive digital trade

[Update] Read the session report

The Geneva Internet Platform will host a special session on Inclusive Digital Trade and Sustainable Development: Exploring Creative Solutions and Ways Forward. The session will take place on Thursday, 29th September, at the WTO premises, Room B, from 13:00 to 14:30 CEST (11:00 – 12:30 UTC). It will explore the avenues for meaningful involvement, and concrete actions for achieving inclusive digital trade, with the participation of SMEs and start-ups, as well as Internet economy and sustainable development experts. Learn more.

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