Business @ MC12: Promoting trade, employment and sustainable development

On 14 June, this key event during the WTO 12th Ministerial Conference brought together business leaders and government representatives to discuss trade, climate change and resilient supply chains.

Watch the recording now!

New economic realities and labour market demands have further evidenced the role of trade as a key driver of economic recovery, job creation and innovation -with business the central force behind most global trading. Yet, global trade disruptions have seriously impacted supply chains, putting enormous pressure on the private sector’s capacity to contribute to national economic development. Ensuring markets remain open and competitive, must be the top priority of all governments, working closely with the private sector. Shaping effective international trade rules and finding practical responses and sustainable solutions cannot be done without the direct engagement of business in global negotiations.

In this context, the role of the WTO and its members must reconcile with the trading role and contribution from the private sector, to foster a sustainable recovery and pave the way for a better future for all. Leveraging each stakeholder's contributions to a common agenda is key.

Business @ MC12 aims at bringing the voice of business to the highest level of engagement with the WTO and key trade players. Connecting the dots on the roles and strengths of the key players in trade and delivering a business approach to “what needs to be done?”, is the main theme of the high-level exchange.

Agenda:

• Welcome: IOE
   
• Keynote: Timor Suleimenov, Chair MC12
   
• Panel 1: Trade and COP27: How to better connect the dots?
  Moderator: Matthias Thorns, Deputy Secretary-General, IOE
  • Angela Paolini Ellard, WTO Deputy Director-General
  • Charlotte Frater, Chief Negotiator Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS), New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade
  • Patricia Veringa-Gieskes, Founder & CEO of The Job Factory, Féderation des Entreprises du Congo

               - Tour de table and Conclusions

• Panel 2: Making supply chains more resilient: What needs to be done?
  Moderator: Luisa Santos, Deputy Director-General, BusinessEurope
  • Etienne Oudot de Dainville, Permanent Representative of France to the WTO
  • Anna Stellinger, Deputy Director-General, Confederation of Swedish Enterprise
  • Arif Rachmat, Chair B20 Trade and Investment Committee
  • Phil O’Reilly, Director at Iron Duke Partners. Former Chair Business@OECD
  • Dante Pesce, Founder and Executive Director of Vincular Center at PUCV, Chile

               - Tour de table and Conclusions