Achieving the new United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires improving access to basic services that contribute to poverty alleviation such as: sustainable and affordable energy; healthcare; education and affordable Internet/broadband; and safe drinking water. Providing this improved access to basic services is beyond the financial reach of both donors and the majority of governments.

As a result, new means of implementation are needed; based on partnerships, innovation and greater efficiency coupled with increased local expertise. The UNECE is in a unique position to contribute to these new means of implementation: First, because its working model is already based on strong partnerships; Second, because its wide range of standards, best practices and policies support stronger partnerships, innovation, efficiency and greater local expertise.

This high level conference will bring together leading policy makers and experts from the UNECE region to discuss how countries can develop these new means and thus unlock the economic potential for SDG implementation through international trade, innovation and public-private partnerships.

It is organized in two segments. The first focusses on the potential of trade and, particularly, agricultural trade to support SDG implementation, in particular through a more efficient, transparent and barrier-free trading environment. The second focusses on innovation policy and the promotion of PPPs, and how they can contribute to sustainable economic growth.

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