Join NFTC’s Global Innovation Forum and the Friends of E-Commerce for Development (FED) Group for a breakfast workshop on Thursday, April 27 from 8:00am – 9:45am to discuss “Enabling development through global eCommerce and entrepreneurship.”
The “salon style” breakfast will feature introductory remarks from several small businesses about their experiences engaging in global markets; technology companies who will discuss the role of technology in enabling the global success of entrepreneurs; the FED group and other WTO Members.
Following the initial remarks, Jake Colvin, Executive Director of NFTC’s Global Innovation Forum, will moderate a discussion among participants to explore the opportunities for developing countries/LDCs to engage in global eCommerce to support their economic development, and how governments can help enable their success, including through forums such as the WTO.
Agenda
8:00 – 8:10 AM Welcome and introductory remarks
Dr. Syed Tauqir Shah, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the WTO
The Honorable Alvaro Cedeno Molinari, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the World Trade Organization
Mr. Jake Colvin, Executive Director, Global Innovation Forum at the National Foreign Trade Council
8:10 – 8:45 AM Perspectives from Small Businesses on how global e-Commerce encourages development
Mr. Omar Bawa, Head of Product, Goodwall (Switzerland), a social network that connects high school students from 180 countries to the world.
Mr. Darko Dujic, CEO at Ceneje Group & Shopper’s Mind, Ceneje.si (Slovenia), the largest portal for comparative shopping in Slovenia, where you can discover more than 900,000 products from more than 400 vendors.
Mr. Hai Ho, Founder, Triip.me (Vietnam), which turns ordinary locals into an amateur tour guide overnight, allowing anyone to create a tourism package and sell in to tourists on their website and iPhone app.
Mr. Matendo Fernand, CEO, Burundi Shop (Burundi), the leading company in digital communications and related services in Burundi and a solution to enable landlocked areas and small businesses to become key players in cross-border trade.
Mr. Marc Refabert, President & CEO, Fromages.com (France), which allows customers around the world to enjoy the best of French cheeses and shop them online.
8:45 – 9:15 AM Perspectives from technology companies on the role of the internet in facilitating access to the global economy and enabling development
9:15 – 9:30 AM Comments from co-chairs of the Friends of e-Commerce for Development
9:30 – 10:00 AM Interventions from other Ambassadors and experts on enabling development through global e-Commerce and entrepreneurship
10:00 – 10:30 AM Coffee and informal conversation among participants
