The Good Trade Summit spotlights gender equality, sustainability in COVID-19 recovery

WHAT: The Good Trade Summit 2020, organized by the International Trade Centre (ITC). Under the theme “Emerging Stronger from the COVID-19 Crisis”, the Summit highlights the need to place sustainability and gender equality at the heart of the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, while spotlighting the importance of “good trade” for a more inclusive and equitable world. It will examine these themes through a value-chain perspective from every angle to ask:

·       What are “lessons learned” from the crisis?

·       How can we use this as an opportunity to hit the reset button and build more resilient, inclusive and sustainable value chains?

·       How can “good trade” be part of the solution?

The event brings together the SheTrades Global – the premier global event linking women entrepreneurs with buyers and partners – with the Trade for Sustainable Development (T4SD) Forum – one of the leading global events on sustainable value chains – for critical discussions on sustainability, trade & gender.

WHY: The coronavirus has taken a huge toll on human lives, overwhelming hospitals, emptying shops, and exposing the frailty of our trading systems based on value chains. It has also disproportionately hit women, impacting livelihoods and exacerbating the gender gap. These extraordinary circumstances have revealed the interconnectedness of multiple trade and development challenges – and the ever-growing need for collaboration.

WHO: The Good Trade Summit will convene a wide range of stakeholders from the trade and development community, entrepreneurs, business leaders, government officials and inspirational speakers from all walks of life to share experiences, showcase initiatives across ITC’s networks, encourage networking and brainstorm rebuilding a more equitable and sustainable future. Confirmed speakers include:

·       Alexandra Palt, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer Executive & VP of the L’Oréal Foundation, L’Oréal

·       Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary – General, United Nations

·       Dr. Bertrand Piccard, Initiator and Chairman, Solar Impulse Foundation

·       H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Former President of Liberia and Nobel Laureate

·       Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme

·       Jason Kelley, General Manager, Blockchain Services, IBM

·       Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director, International Trade Centre

·       Peter Bakker, President and CEO, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)

·       Selwin Charles Hart, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Climate Action & Assistant Secretary-General for the Climate Action Team, United Nations

·       Sharan Burrow, General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation

·       Dr. Thoraya Obaid, Chair, The Women 20 (W20) Saudi Arabia

WHEN: 7-8 October 2020

14:00 – 17:40 CET (7 October)

             14:00 – 18:40 CET (8 October)

WHERE: online. Registration page: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-good-trade-summit-online-registration-118597096107

OVERVIEW

DAY 1: TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE RECOVERY

14:00-14:10INTRODUCTION: DAY 1 
14:10-14:25HIGH-LEVEL SUMMIT OPENING 
14:25-14:45HIGH-PROFILE KICK-OFF INTERVIEW 
14:45-16:00PANEL 1 (ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY):Maintaining Momentum: From COVID-19 Recovery to a Green Transition 
16:00-16:15BREAK 
16:15-17:30PANEL 2 (GENDER AND TRADE):Women and trade at the heart of the pandemic recovery 
17:30-17:40CLOSING KEYNOTE

DAY 2: THE WAY FORWARD: RESILIENCE THROUGH SUSTAINABLE, INNOVATIVE AND INCLUSIVE TRADE

14:00-14:10SPECIAL “SETTING THE SCENE”: DAY 2 
14:10-15:25PANEL 1 (SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY):“Building Back Better”: Social and Economic Sustainability for Resilience 
15:25-15:45BREAK 
15:45-17:00PANEL 2 (GENDER AND SUSTAINABILITY IN TECHNOLOGY):Digital transformation for Shockproof and Inclusive Value Chains 
17:00-17:15ILLUSTRATION 
17:15-17:35CONCLUDING INTERVIEW 
17:35-17:40CLOSING STATEMENT 
17:40- 18:40NETWORKING POWER HOUR 

About ITC

The International Trade Centre is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. For more information, visit www.intracen.org.  Follow ITC on Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | Flickr