Intergovernmental Group of Experts on E-commerce and the Digital Economy, sixth session

This Intergovernmental Group of Experts aims to strengthen the work of UNCTAD on information and communications technologies, e-commerce and the digital economy for development, so as to enhance its ability to support developing countries to engage in and benefit from the evolving digital economy, and reduce the digital divide, for the creation of more inclusive knowledge societies.

The substantive agenda items for the session are as follows:

• How to make data work for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• Working Group on Measuring E-commerce and the Digital Economy.

Written contributions

To facilitate deliberations and the informal exchange of experiences and good practices on the topics to be discussed, member States and observers are requested to submit written contributions to the UNCTAD secretariat by Friday, 21 April 2023.

Written contributions that share experiences, good practices and forward-looking suggestions with regard to how to make data work for the 2030 Agenda are welcome, to inform the discussion on the first substantive agenda item, based on the following guiding questions approved by the Trade and Development Board in July 2022:

• What are the key issues at stake for developing countries in relation to cross-border data flows?
• What would be needed to ensure that benefits of the digital economy are shared more equitably?
• What national and international policies and support measures can help address the challenges of developing countries in electronic commerce (e-commerce) and the digital economy?
• What are the implications of cross-border data flows at the regional and international levels in relation to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda?
• What is the best way to contribute to the debate on data governance to maximize the development potential of data?

Participation

This session is open to all member States of UNCTAD. Other organizations, including specialized agencies, intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental organizations in the general and special categories, as well as academia and the private sector, may participate as observers. Online registration is mandatory for all those wishing to attend the meeting and is required in order to be included in the list of participants.

Logistics

The session will be held with physical participation, in Room XIX of the Palais des Nations, and remote participation, through a simultaneous interpretation platform in the six official languages of the United Nations.

A link to the formal virtual meeting will be sent to registered participants, at the email address used for registration, one day in advance of the start of the session.