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UNDA 14 Coordination meeting on Blockchains for facilitating trade and enhancing competitiveness

28 June (9:30) - 29 June (17:00) 2022
Room 307-1, H building Geneva Switzerland

Trade costs are a major issue in international trade. They determine competitiveness, which is fundamental to participating in international trade activities. With various developments around international trade rules resulting from successive trade agreement negotiations at the global, regional, and bilateral levels, tariffs for international trade have fallen to historically low levels, leaving non-tariff measures such as logistics and customs procedures as the main stumbling blocks to international trade.

This event brings together UNESCWA and the four other UN regional commissions for Africa (ECA), Europe (ECE), Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) as well as UNCTAD. Thereby, it ensures both global reach and regional presence, international cooperation, and exchange of knowledge and good practices from all over the world.

The project will strengthen national innovation and technological capacities related to the use of blockchain technology in customs and trade operations in five selected developing countries, to boost trade and enhance competitiveness in support of sustainable development. More particularly, the project will contribute to increase national awareness on the importance of blockchain in trade facilitation through tailored capacity building activities on how to effectively adopt and deploy blockchain technology. Once implemented, the technical support programs will significantly help spread blockchain technology in the pilot countries and its use in international trade, drawing on the lessons learned from the development and implementation of this technology across the globe. The pilot countries, similarly, to most developing countries, cannot remain on the sidelines when it comes to increasing the quantity and quality of trade flows between countries in the region and with the rest of the world.

For further information, please contact Ms. Maria Rosaria Ceccarelli, Chief, Trade Facilitation Section, ECTD/UNECE

DAY 1 - 28 June 2022, Tuesday

Time

Item

Presenter

9:30-9:40

Welcome speech

Elisabeth Tuerk, Director, ECTD

9:40-10:30

Introduction of blockchain theory, ecosystem and practical examples

Consultant / Clovis

10:30-12:00

Blockchain uses in trade facilitation, costs, standardization, etc

Virginia Cram
Steve Capell

12:00-13:30

Lunch

13:30-15:00

Current/previous projects on blockchain for trade, overview of component, challenges, lessons learned, implementation issues, impact

Maria Teresa Pisani
Andrea Redaelli
Giacomo Poretti

15:00-16:30

Current/previous projects and experiences

other UNRCs & UNCTAD

DAY 2 - 29 June 2022, Wednesday

Time

Item

Presenter

9:30-11:30

Review of EA 1, elaboration on activities, coordination of implementation

All partners

11:30-13:00

Review of EA 2, elaboration on activities, coordination of implementation

All partners 

13:00-14:30

Lunch

14:30-15:15

Review and discussion of ToRs for the global report 

UNCTAD & all partners

15:15-16:30

Review and discussion of the ToRs for the Guide

ESCWA & all partners

16:30-17:00

Review of available e-leaning platforms and other resources to support the project’s activities 

UNCTAD & other RCs