Deadline: 1-Jun-22
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has launched a call for proposals for this year’s Public Forum, whose theme is “Towards a sustainable and inclusive recovery: ambition to action”.
The theme for this year’s Public Forum is “Towards a sustainable and inclusive recovery: ambition to action”. Under the main theme the Public Forum’s sub-themes are Leveraging technology for an inclusive recovery; Delivering a trade agenda for a sustainable future; and Framing the future of trade.
This year’s Public Forum will look at how trade can contribute to a post-pandemic economic recovery — in particular, how trade rules can be strengthened and government policies improved to create a more resilient, sustainable and inclusive trading system.
Themes
The Forum has three subthemes:
- Leveraging technology for an inclusive recovery
- Delivering a trade agenda for a sustainable future
- Framing the future of trade
Participants interested in organizing sessions at the Forum, scheduled to take place from 27 to 30 September, are invited to submit their proposals by 1 June 2022.
Format: The Public Forum will be held in person at the WTO premises in Geneva.
Working Sessions or Workshops
Organisers can choose between working sessions or workshops.
- Working sessions are composed of no more than 5 panellists (including the moderator) introducing the issue and offering their point of view to the audience. The moderator will engage the participants in an open discussion. Interpretation in the official WTO languages (English, French and/or Spanish) will be available on a first-come first-serve basis.
- Workshops take the form of informal brainstorming discussions. There will be no interpretation to allow for better interaction.
Eligibility Criteria
- The Forum will bring together governments, the private sector, civil society, academics and consumers to consider how the trading system can help to support and sustain an inclusive economic recovery.
- Participants will discuss how trade and the multilateral trading system can assist technological transformation and ensure that all countries, businesses and individuals – regardless of their level of development, size and income – can reap the benefits of the digital age.
- Participants at the Forum will also consider how reform of the WTO can strengthen the organization, support rapid economic recovery and improve preparedness for future pandemics and other shocks. Sessions will examine how the multilateral trading system can better address the needs of developing countries and LDCs.
- They will also examine where updated trade rules can help to create a level playing field for women, young people and small businesses and to address the needs of the modern economy while supporting a resilient and inclusive recovery.
For more information, visit https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news22_e/pf22_30mar22_e.htm