Moderated by Nick Ashton-Hart, the four panelists shared with an involved and dynamic audience (composed of Ambassadors, diplomats, students, representative of international organisations and private entities) their experiences, the challenges in respect to digital growth and how obstacles can be overcome.

New technologies, innovation and Internet disrupt traditional business models. Companies need to adapt to the digital era, explained Inbar Schwartz, Head of business and Development at "Delta Galil". The solution is to embrace existing distribution channels but also to create your own channels adapted to the need of customers on national markets. Personalization of the service provided will be crucial for companies in this new business environment. However, “it is not just about commerce. Access to the Internet is democratizing​ information and knowledge and everyone in the world should have the benefit of that”.

Roy Ombatti founded African Born 3D Printer in Kenya, creating 3D printers out of e-waste. By producing locally with limited import and re-using materials, the idea is to lower the price of a 3D printer so it can be accessible to everyone. The challenge is how this innovative concept is being received and how to make it competitive. There is also an education agenda to his project that follows the principle of learning by making. “We should think of poor people not as one million mouths to feed but as 2 million hands to engage”, he concluded.

The panel also provided the perspectives of platforms trying to help bridging the digital divide by putting partnerships into place.

TradeLab was represented by its co-founder, Professor Joost Pauwelyn. The web platform is a network of trade and investments law clinics that aims to provide legal information for free. Not only does the platform provide smaller players the legal services, they couldn’t afford, but it also has an educational role as students across the globe work with academic supervisors and legal practitioners on concrete case studies. Bridging the digital divide is also about building capacity. TradeLab is “local learning to provide a service at a distance”.

The World Economic Forum works on several projects related to the digital economy, one of them tries to improve access and affordability through providing a platform for public-private partnership to take place: Internet for All. Governments needs to lead by example, stressed Alex Wong. They need to get people online and be precursor of providing services online.

In short, even if challenges can be different in each country, there are still similar trends and difficulties to overcome  including the questions of trust, charges and access. The digital revolution is also not simply about businesses and trade it is also about social growth and one cannot be separated from the other. National solutions adapted to the national markets, customers and challenges are central to creating an enabling environment but an international impulse is needed and this is where Geneva can play a fundamental role.