WEF hosts TradeTech Forum 2024 in Abu Dhabi this week
Forum to discuss advanced technologies in global trade
The World Economic Forum (WEF) is bringing together 300 ministers, business leaders, trade experts, and representatives from civil society to explore the utilisation of cutting-edge technologies in global trade.
Being held on February 27, 2024, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre – TradeTech Forum 2024 – the first event of its kind, coincides with the World Trade Organization 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) and is hosted by the UAE Ministry of Economy and the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development.
This unique forum is an extension of the TradeTech Global initiative, an ambitious project initiated by the WEF, aiming to revolutionise global trade by introducing and piloting new technologies while examining associated policy and business models.
Børge Brende, President of the World Economic Forum, highlighted the urgency of understanding and integrating new technologies to revitalise global trade.
He highlighted the opportunity MC13 and the TradeTech Forum presented to build on the progress made in Davos, particularly in accelerating technology deployment to drive a trade recovery and break free from the shackles of ‘slowbalization.’
Discussions at the TradeTech Forum will build upon the strategies considered during the WEF Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos.
Trade system upgrade
Participants will explore ways to upgrade the trade system to meet current needs, advocating for a rules-based global trade system focusing on investment facilitation, e-commerce, and sustainable trade at MC13.
Panel discussions and roundtables at the TradeTech Forum will explore how technologies can make trade more sustainable, inclusive, and development-oriented.
Key focus areas include aiding companies in navigating new regulatory and consumer requirements for supply chain resilience and transparency.
Additionally, there will be a focus on deploying technology to facilitate trade processes in developing economies and addressing trade finance gaps, especially for small businesses.
Practical accelerator
The TradeTech Forum is positioned as a practical accelerator of trade reforms, complementing the MC13 negotiations.
It leverages the WEF’s extensive experience implementing trade facilitation worldwide through public-private collaboration.
A highlight of the event is the TradeTech Fair, showcasing innovative trade solutions and collaborative coalitions working to overcome network barriers and scale new trade technologies globally.
Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade and Chair of MC13, expressed optimism about the positive impact of technology on global supply chains.
He sees the TradeTech Forum as an opportunity for global trade leaders to collaboratively shape the future of global trade, fostering brighter, cleaner, and more inclusive supply chains.
The TradeTech Forum’s programme will cover various topics, including boosting the TradeTech ecosystem, shaping inclusive, efficient, and sustainable global trade, and discussing the role of international policies in advancing inclusive and sustainable trade through technology.
The event will conclude with closing remarks from Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and Børge Brende.
Programme focus areas and thematic highlights
- 10.00 – 11.00: Panel Discussion – How Do We Boost the TradeTech Ecosystem?
- 11.00 – 12.00: Workshop – TradeTech Futures Lab: Shaping Inclusive, Efficient and Sustainable Global Trade
- 13.30 – 14.15: Interviews – The Thinker, the Innovator and the Builder
- 14.15 – 15.15: Roundtable – The Future of Trade: How Trusted AI Will Drive Trade Transformation
- 15.45 – 16.30: Panel Discussion – MC13 meets TradeTech: The Role of International Policies in Advancing Inclusive and Sustainable Trade through Technology
- 16.30 – 17.15: Panel Discussion – From Vision to Action: Building Coalitions for a Global TradeTech Boom
- 17.15 – 17.45: Closing Remarks – Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, UAE and Børge Brende, President, World Economic Forum
Featured image: The inaugural TradeTech Forum is held in the UAE capital. Image: Artur Aldyrkhanov
Last Updated on 9 months by Arnold Pinto
