Policymakers and business leaders meeting in Doha to discuss global trade, investment and development

His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the State of Qatar, on 20 October 2015 opened the World Export Development Forum (WEDF), which is taking place in Doha, Qatar. More than 700 people from 92 countries are attending the event, which is organized by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and hosted by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the State of Qatar through the Qatar Development Bank.

Opening WEDF, Prime Minister Abdullah Bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani told the audience that the sustainability of international trade flows must go hand-in-hand with significant investment efforts, as well as innovative policies and appropriate institutional arrangements. ‘Whether we want it or not, continuing to fulfill our countries’ economic development potential will demand from all of us the courage and vision to adapt our existing policy frameworks to better deal with economic and social change everywhere,’ he said.

ITC Executive Director Arancha González said that more open trade and investment – and especially more competitive small and medium enterprises (SMEs) – can help the world generate sustainable and inclusive growth and reach the Global Goals for Sustainable Development, which were agreed by world leaders at the United Nations last month.

‘Sustainable, because growth needs to be compatible with our planet; and inclusive because growth must work for all, including for youth and women,’ she said. ‘This must be growth anchored in SMEs, which represent 90% of all businesses worldwide and which generate seven of every ten jobs.’

‘Supporting SMEs to internationalize and helping them connect to markets or tap into value chains are key to fostering more dynamic and innovative economies and ensuring growth is sustained and sustainable,’ she said.

His Excellency Sheikh Ahmed Bin Jassim Al Thani , Minister of Economy and Commerce, said that Qatar has embarked on a path towards more sustainable growth, diversifying the economy away from hydrocarbons, pointing out that the non-hydrocarbon sector now accounts for more than 50% of the country’s economy.

‘We need to have a solid and sustainable export-oriented private sector,’ said Sheikh Ahmed Bin Jassim Al Thani. ‘Achieving this will greatly reduce our economy’s inherent exposure to international markets, an area that we now actively manage both at the micro as well as the economy-wide level.’

Abdulaziz Al Khalifa, CEO of QDB, said: ‘For Qatar, it is an honour to host WEDF, which has become a leading platform for policymakers to talk and do business. It is also recognition of Qatar as a bridge, linking continents together through trade.’

‘SMEs play a leading role in Qatar’s ongoing diversification efforts. WEDF allows us to strengthen this work by sharing ideas and learning from others. It also provides an ideal platform to shine a spotlight on how SMEs can contribute to inclusive growth by building linkages with foreign companies and connecting to value chains,’ he said.

‘Sustainable trade: Innovate, invest, internationalize’ is the theme of this year’s WEDF, which comes on the heels of the adoption by world leaders of the Global Goals for Sustainable Development. This new global agenda seeks to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030 while stimulating socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable economic growth. It specifically calls for encouraging the growth of SME to boost job creation and economic opportunities for all.

Speakers in Doha will address the unique challenges and opportunities faced by SMEs in developing countries and economies in transition. They will point to how these businesses, which account for the bulk of employment around the world, can be empowered to use international trade and investment to drive growth and job creation.

The two-day event will consist of four plenary sessions and four parallel breakout sessions, alongside structured and informal B2B meetings aimed at enabling participating SMEs to meet potential customers, suppliers, and investors.

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About WEDF 2015

Opening up new trade and investment opportunities to encourage sustainable growth will be at the heart of this year’s World Export Development Forum (WEDF), which will be held in Doha, Qatar from 20-21 October.

The 15th edition of the International Trade Centre (ITC)’s flagship event will be hosted by the Ministry of Finance of the State of Qatar through the Qatar Development Bank (QDB) under the theme ‘Sustainable trade: Innovate, invest, internationalize’.

Policymakers, representatives of trade support institutions and businesses are invited to meet in Doha against the backdrop of the post-2015 development agenda calling to renewed efforts to unlock the potential of small and medium-sized enterprises, women and youth.

Alongside high-level panel discussions and practical working sessions, facilitated business-to-business meetings will allow participants to take advantage of the Gulf countries’ unique position at the crossroads where east meets west to explore new business opportunities.

The World Export Development Forum (WEDF) is a unique global platform dedicated to supporting export-led development.

WEDF provides an issue-focused setting for policymakers, trade support institutions and business leaders to gain practical understanding in trade competitiveness. It also provides unparalleled opportunities for business operators to network and meet with potential partners. Organized by the International Trade Centre (ITC), the only United Nations organization with an exclusive focus on assisting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to internationalize, WEDF is dedicated to the development of SMEs.

SMEs are the backbone of the global economy, especially in developing countries, where they contribute two-thirds of employment. Their role is even more important in least developed countries, where they account for 80% of jobs and are key to inclusive growth. Increased participation of SMEs in regional and global trade leads to improved livelihoods for a large segment of the population, including for women and youth. SMEs’ contribution to job creation in developing countries is thus essential. They will be a key source of employment as 500 million men and women enter the global labour market by 2030. Given their role in providing decent employment, supporting economic growth and reducing poverty, SMEs must play a central part in the global development framework.

WEDF will bring together over 500 senior national and international policymakers, heads of trade support organizations, business leaders and representatives of international agencies. Through a varied programme, participants will increase their practical knowledge in the latest innovations, processes and policies, and establish new partnerships and contacts through networking.