TRADE AND INVESTMENT: Seminar
Seminar on E-commerce and Investment Facilitation
“Bridging the Digital Divide: Harnessing E-commerce and Investment Facilitation for Inclusive Trade and Development”
A joint seminar organized by the Friends of E-commerce for Development (FED)(1) and the Friends of Investment Facilitation for Development (FIFD)(2)
Facilitating investment in digital infrastructure is critical if developing countries are going to participate in – and benefit from – e-commerce. This FED-FIFD joint seminar will highlight the synergies between e-commerce and investment facilitation discussions in the WTO, and explore what steps developing and least-developed countries can take to scale up investment in "hard" and "soft" infrastructure to help them leverage e-commerce for development. It will also explore how creating an enabling environment for e-commerce can help to encourage investment in digital infrastructure. Drawing on insights from policy experts and private sector investors, the seminar will examine:
- where developing countries' digital infrastructure needs and priorities lie;
- how developing countries are facilitating investment in digital infrastructure and what additional steps might be taken;
- what role public-private partnerships can play in building digital connectivity;
- how synergies between e-commerce and investment facilitation can be harnessed; and,
- how the WTO – and more coherent trade and investment policies - can contribute to increasing digital connectivity in developing countries.
Programme
Opening Remarks
- Ambassador Syed Tauqir Shah, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the WTO
Opening Remarks - Ambassador Roberto Zapata, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the WTO
Opening Remarks - Ambassador Chiedu Osakwe, Trade Advisor to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment of Nigeria
Opening Remarks
Moderator
Ms. Irene B.K. Young, Permanent Representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China to the WTO (Moderator)
Remarks
Speakers
- Mr. James Zhan, Director, Investment and Enterprise Division, UNCTAD
Presenting the World Investment Report 2017 – Investment and the Digital Economy
Presentation - Mr. Bilal Khan, Telenor, Pakistan
The contribution of mobile infrastructure to leveraging e-commerce for development
Presentation - Mr. Pierre Sauvé, Senior Trade Specialist, World Bank Group
The complementary components of digital development strategies
Presentation - Ms. Kimberley Botwright, Policy Analyst, Digital Trade, World Economic Forum
Exploiting synergies between investment facilitation and e-commerce to promote trade connectivity and development
Presentation
Statement - Mr. Hamid Mamdouh, Director Trade in Services and Investment Division, WTO
Investment facilitation, e-trade and development
Presentation
Panel discussion followed by a Q & A session.
Closing Remarks
- Mr. Roberto Azevêdo,, Director-General, WTO
- Ambassador Marcelo Cima, Permanent Representative of Argentina to the WTO and Coordinator of the WTO Informal Dialogue on Investment Facilitation for Development
- Ambassador Zhang Xiangchen, Permanent Representative of China to the WTO
Closing Remarks
Notes
- FED consists of the following 12 WTO members: Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mexico, Moldova, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Uruguay. Back to text
- FIFD consists of the following 12 WTO members: Argentina; Brazil; Chile; China; Colombia; Hong Kong, China; Kazakhstan; Korea; Mexico; Nigeria; Pakistan; and, Qatar. Back to text