World Export Development Forum 2023

Closed-door business consultations bring the private sector voice to the highest levels in government and the United Nations for a Third UN Conference on LLDCs that is set for 2024 in Kigali, Rwanda and will be attended by Heads of State and Government.

Landlocked countries have only 1% share of global trade. An inclusive supply chain mindset will boost trade. Transport and logistics should focus on trade corridors and borders, with affordable finance for small firms in value chains. Trade facilitation measures must be digital and gender-sensitive.

Moderated dialogues and Q&A 
 
Moderator: Mr. Victor Kiprop, BBC Africa 
 
11:20-12:20 Parallel roundtables on business and trade development 

- Trade infrastructure (Facilitated by CAREC)
- Regional connectivity (Facilitated by UN-OHRLLS)
- Trade and finance (Facilitated by EBRD)
- Inclusive trade facilitation (Facilitated by ITC)

12:20-13:00 Summaries 

Rapporteur: 
Mr. Dulguun Damdin-Od, Executive Director, International Think Tank for Landlocked Developing Countries 

Closing remarks:
Ms. Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director, International Trade Centre

Sectors: ICT Services, Natural fibres, Leather

 Xiamen MICE Industry Promotion Agency

The President of Mongolia opens the event with international officials. They outline a forward-looking vision to diversify trade in ways that are green, digital and organic – and bring small businesses into regional and global trade.

Master of Ceremonies nominated by the Government of Mongolia.

Businesses take the spotlight on this International Day for Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. They share inspirational examples of green and digital trade – and reflect on the visions set out earlier in the day.

GREEN
- Ms. Shagdarsuren Delgermaa, Chief Operating Officer, Monpellets, Mongolia & Mr. Paul Brough, Agribusiness Manager, Rabobank, New Zealand

- Ms. Thérèse Sekamana, Founder/CEO, LED Solutions and Green Energy, Rwanda & Ms. Siti Sofiah binti Ramli, Owner, Medic Pets, Malaysia


DIGITAL
- Mr. Purevbazar Purevjav, Founder, FIBO Cloud, Mongolia

- Mr. Anar Chinbaatar, Co-Founder and Chief Vision Officer, ONDO; Founder and President, AND Global, Mongolia & Mr. Satoshi Irie, General Manager, Finance & Leasing Business, Marubeni ASEAN, Japan

Globally, over 40% of people are now under 25. Today’s entrepreneurs are tomorrow’s employers. What do young entrepreneurs need to succeed?

Video remarks: Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake, United Nations Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth, United Nations

Young entrepreneurs from around the world pitch their green startups before a panel of judges. Selected from 63 countries, they compete in two categories: Green Business Solutions, and Land Restoration Initiatives.

Judges:
- Mr. Andrew Michael Ong, Director, Division for Asia and the Pacific, World Intellectual Property Organization
- Mr. Allan Majuru, Chief Executive Officer, ZimTrade, Zimbabwe
- Ms. Paula Padrino Vilela, Programme Manager, Land Restoration, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
- Mr. Vedant Gandhi, former Ecopreneur award winner; Co-Founder, RecycleX, India
- Ms. Diana Carballo, Senior Pro Bono Coordinator, Sidley Austin

At the midway point in the forum, we offer thought leadership on inclusive and sustainable trade in fast-changing times. The impact of artificial intelligence for small firms is a key theme that will be explored.

The world has embarked on a transformative journey, reshaping business and trade through digital innovation. As technology becomes seamlessly integrated into every facet of our lives, major tech companies are expanding their global reach, and local digital innovators are taking up the challenge to play their part. This panel takes stock of digitalization across geographies and zooms in on the impact of artificial intelligence and other frontier technologies, and what it means for small businesses.

As environmental considerations enter global value chains, we must ensure a ‘just transition’ for small suppliers in developing countries.

From blended financing to impact investment, guarantees, risk sharing, improved data and other resources, we can innovate to support small firms.

Connecting women to international networks helps them access new markets, build skills, find mentors and access finance – especially in tech, the next frontier for women’s empowerment.

Announcement of the winners of the Youth Ecopreneur Awards, as well as the next host country for the World Export Development Forum.

With cultural performance

This workshop is an opportunity to reflect on the insights of the World Export Development Forum discussions and business meetings and ensure they are integrated in the development of a national export strategy, which is expected to be
launched at the end of 2023.

Businesses in Mongolia are specially invited to this workshop. It is designed to bring the voice of business to export strategy development. The workshop will explore priority sectors for trade development. It will feature international experts and national government officials will be present.

Mongolia is developing a national export strategy with the World Bank and the International Trade Centre, with the aim to diversify trade. The focal point in the government is the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Light Industry, and other government ministries are also involved.

A second day of closed-door discussions will take place among those directly involved in developing the strategy.

International participants will meet a nomadic family, hear Mongolian folk songs, have an introduction to herding, milking and distillation of dairy alcohol. Archery, felt-making and rides in yak and camel-drawn carts are also part of the experience.

Buses leave the Shangri-La at 10:00 and return at 14:00. The programme includes a traditional Mongolian lunch.