United Arab Emirates

<p>The World Trade Organization's 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates brings together Ministers from across the world to review the functioning of the multilateral trading system and to take action on the future work of the WTO.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The International Trade Centre (ITC) supports MC13 with contributions to discussions and practical solutions for a more inclusive trading system. ITC activities include the WTO-ITC SheTrades Summit featuring the launch of the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund. ITC will also contribute to the IISD Trade and Sustainability Hub, the TradeTech Forum 2024, the UAE MC13 MSME side event, as well as discussions on trade facilitation and WTO accession. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>World Trade Organization (WTO) Members, the WTO Secretariat and the International Trade Centre (ITC) have placed inclusive trade at the forefront of global, regional and national agendas. In 2017, the Buenos Aires WTO Declaration on Trade and Women's Economic Empowerment was a key milestone in the global women and trade agenda with more than two-thirds of the WTO membership joining the Declaration. In 2021, 134 WTO members and observers established the Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender. At MC12, WTO&nbsp;members recognized the importance of women’s economic empowerment in international trade.</p><p>Turning to Aid for Trade, ITC SheTrades Initiative, launched in 2015, has been a key driver in transforming opportunities for women producers and entrepreneurs. ITC SheTrades works with corporations, export promotion agencies, chambers of commerce, financial institutions and trade ministries to create sustainable and scalable impact for women entrepreneurs and producers.</p><p>At the 13<i>th</i> Ministerial Conference (MC13), the journey towards an inclusive trading system accelerates. WTO and ITC, in collaboration with the Government of the UAE, will hold a two-day high-level event to celebrate the progress made by women entrepreneurs in international trade and inspire governments and private sector to take bolder actions in their support for the trade and women’s economic empowerment agenda.</p><p>WTO and ITC will convene governments, corporations, financial institutions, and thought leaders for a joint high-level event. The high-level event will witness the launch of the WTO-ITC Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund—a pioneering initiative that aims to leverage digitalization to boost the competitiveness of and unlock new markets for women-led businesses. The event also includes a series of thought-provoking panel sessions, networking opportunities, and the ITC SheTrades Innovation Festival.</p><p>The Launch of the WEIDE Fund is preceded by the WTO-ITC SheTrades Summit, featuring a programme specially tailored to women entrepreneurs. Participants get to access a programme featuring masterclasses, panel sessions and a field visit."</p>

<p>COP28, the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, kicks off in Dubai on November 30, and for the first time the subject of Trade will feature prominently at the table of negotiations.&nbsp;<br><br>ITC will highlight the importance of small businesses around the world and why climate action needs to happen with a&nbsp;'just transition', which is an inclusive transition, involving the participation of small businesses, and especially those led by youth, women, indigenous communities, and marginalized groups.</p>

The International Trade Centre (ITC) hosts a Media briefing at the Expo 2020 Dubai Media Centre, to inform about ITC's programme of activities at the UN Hub, Opportunity Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai. The media briefing will be hosted by Vittorio Cammarota, Chief, Communications and Events, ITC, and will feature hots of the programme sessions. Also present will be Ms. Sally Mousa, Radio and TV presenter, Dubai.

The conversation explores how to reduce or eliminate the financing gap experienced by women specifically in the Middle East and African regions. The panel will examine solutions to overcome barriers and ease women’s access to capital and other financing needs. Closing the gender gap and supporting women’s financial inclusion could facilitate new business opportunities for women and other vulnerable groups, lower investment costs, increase social inclusion, reduce inequality, and accelerate achievement of the SDGs with more balanced development and inclusive growth.

The event is organized by ITC, in partnership with the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation

Coffee is commercially produced in more than 50 countries, and the world drinks upwards of 3 billion cups a day. Millions of coffee growers, mostly smallholder farmers, increased production by 50% over the past two decades. Demand is set to further increase in the coming years.

This inspiring talk with experts explores how partnerships can ensure a systemic sector transformation that will drive real impact for all. Speakers include some of the 70 partners who collaborated with ITC on the 4th edition of The Coffee Guide the world’s leading practical source for the international coffee trade.

The event is organized by ITC, in partnership with the European Union, the Africa and Madagascar Robusta Coffee Agency (ACRAM), the Caribbean Network of Fair Trade Producers (CLAC), the European Union, Fairtrade Africa, and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).