Trade for Sustainable Development (T4SD) Forum 2026
Trade can be a powerful tool in tackling global sustainability challenges. Coupled with technological innovation, investment and supporting ecosystems, trade can empower the private sector to deliver inclusive growth, ensuring that no one is left behind. Supply chain disruptions, climate shocks, and business risks disproportionally affect countries in the Global South, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Supporting SME competitiveness through technological innovations, targeted support services, capacity building and investment offers new ways of addressing structural complexities and enabling resilient value chains.
For example, technological innovation has already impacted sustainable trade by enhancing traceability across supply chains, real-time Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) risk assessments and Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered tools. These fast-evolving technological solutions improve the resilience of global supply chains, business competitiveness, and regulatory compliance. However, enabling business-led sustainable trade and SME competitiveness requires investment, policy support and a range of ecosystem partnerships to de-risk those investments and ensure innovations are adopted and scaled.
The Trade for Sustainable Development (T4SD) Forum will bring stakeholders together to facilitate action-oriented discussions, strengthening connections between sustainable development, technology, investment and trade. Climate Week Zurich 2026 will serve as the ideal platform convening ITC partners, the business community, SMEs, technology innovators and development practitioners. The insights from the event will feed into the ITC SME Ministerial process, which fosters dialogue, presents the latest research, and encourages the sharing of countries’ good practices.
Programme outline
10:00 – 10:30
Welcome & Registration
10:30 – 11:00
Opening Remarks
11:00 – 12:15
PANEL 1 – Technology as an Enabler of Sustainable and Inclusive Trade
12:15 – 12:30
Keynote
12:30 – 13:30
Networking lunch
13:30 – 14:30
PANEL 2 – Investing in Sustainable Trade: What Pathways Exist for SMEs?
14:30 – 16:00
Meet the Entrepreneurs Who Are Scaling Climate Solutions
16:00 – 17:30
Networking Reception