WTO Workshop on Digital Trade for LDCs and Selected African Developing Countries

The WTO Secretariat will provide a background of e-Commerce discussions at the WTO, including the Work Programme on electronic commerce and moratorium on custom duties on electronic transmissions, as well as explore the role WTO plays as digital trade continues to transform and evolve. This would also include a discussion on the ITA by the WTO, presentation by the WTO on the recently published Handbook on measuring Digital Trade and Digital Trade for Development and a presentation on technical assistance and E-commerce/digital economy.

The World Bank has prepared a gap analysis for six pilot countries under the Digital Trade for Africa initiative and, together with the WTO, has undertaken joint missions to these pilot countries. The World Bank would present the results of these gap analyses.

Selected private sector entities will provide perspectives and details of opportunities allowing participants to hear from stakeholders about concrete experiences on the ground. Participants will also be informed about advances and innovations in digital trade as well as the potential of public-private collaborations. Participants will also have a networking opportunity with counterparts and the private sector.