The World Trade Organization (WTO) will organize the first edition of the Trade for Peace Week, from 30 from November to 4 from December from 2020, the organization reported.
The event will take place in ten virtual roundtables that will explore the link between trade and peace, focusing on fragile and conflict-affected accession countries that wish to use trade and economic integration to promote sustainable and inclusive peace, according to the details of the Press release.
Announcing Trade for Peace Week, Deputy Director-General Alan Wolff highlighted that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognises international trade as an engine for inclusive growth and poverty reduction.
"The connection between trade and peace is the rationale for the creation of the rules-based multilateral trading system that led to economic recovery and prosperity after the devastation of World War II," he said.
Currently, 23 countries are in the process of joining the WTO, and more than half of them are in a fragile situation due to years of conflict.
The Trade for Peace initiative was launched in 2017 to assist fragile and conflict-affected countries (FCA) through WTO accession, with an emphasis on institutional development based on the principles of non-discrimination, predictability, transparency and the rule of law.
Based on experience, WTO membership can help establish the conditions for moving from a state of fragility or conflict to a state of stability, economic well-being and peace.
The first edition of the Trade for Peace Week rewill bring together officials from the WTO community, international partners involved in peacebuilding, the private sector and academia, who will discuss the links between trade and peace.
The week will begin with a round table on “Technology in trade for peace”, organized in collaboration with the United Nations Technology Bank, on Monday 30 November at 12:30 (CET). This will be followed by an official opening session with high-level representatives of the WTO and the peace community at 15:30 (CET).
The full programme of Trade for Peace Week is available here
Aduana News is the first Argentine customs newspaper to launch its digital version. With 20 years of experience, its publications and initiatives aim to provide the most relevant knowledge on customs issues in order to contribute to safe trade in the region.
