Round Table
Bridging the Digital Divide:
Promoting Entrepreneurship and Overcoming Obstacles to Digital Growth
Date: Monday 26 September 2016
Venue: Graduate Institute, Auditorium A1A
Time: 17.30-19:30
Panelists
- Mr Roy OMBATTI, Founder, African Born 3D Printing
- Professor Joost PAUWELYN, Professor of International Law, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies.
- Ms Inbar SCHWARTZ, Delta Galil Industries;
- Mr Alex WONG, World Economic Forum
Moderator
Mr Nick ASHTON HART, Consultant and Associate Fellow, Geneva Centre for Security Policy
Overview
The ‘digital opportunity’ is global with the e-commerce market now estimated to be worth over $21 trillion and is creating new opportunities for LDCs, SMEs and consumers. However companies still have to deal with government regulation and potentially significant barriers to trade in the digital economy, such as lack of competition and legislative differences together with the challenges surrounding online and mobile payments and financial services. E-commerce readiness among low-income countries is particularly inadequate, raising concerns over their ability to engage productively in the evolving global digital economy.
The purpose of this panel discussion is to promote a positive agenda surrounding digital trade and e-commerce throughout Geneva’s institutions. The panel will help increase awareness of the challenges to digital growth in developed and developing countries and how to overcome these. In particular, it seeks to promote a more holistic conversation on digital trade that covers issues which sit within WTO, UNCTAD, WIPO and ITU.
The panel will facilitate an exchange of ideas, initiatives and best practice to overcoming obstacles to digital growth, including promoting entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on:
- Maximizing digital growth globally;
- Exploring the benefits of an open, secure and multi-stakeholder interface;
- Bringing developing countries into this discussion.
The Round Table will be followed by a light reception.
This event is organized by the Graduate Institute's Centre for Trade and Economic Integration, in partnership with the Permanent Missions of Israel and the United Kingdom