World Trade Symposium:
A global trade resurgence?
Covid-19, protectionism, and global tensions have impacted trade like never before. A 13% decline in trade volumes in 2020 is the World Trade Organisation’s best case scenario. But, with vaccines expected to come to market, and new leaders in the White House and in the WTO, a recovery in 2021 may yet be on the cards.
With this incessant change, what must governments, businesses and international institutions do to put economies, and their own organisations back on track? What lessons from covid-19 must become embedded into trade frameworks? How can stakeholders leverage digital trade and new technology to enhance resiliency and sustainability? And where do opportunities exist for firms in the post-covid 19 world?
The World Trade Symposium will debate these critical issues, provide practical solutions and uncover new opportunities for businesses across industries and geographies. Our expert speaker faculty of established corporate leaders, trade financiers and policymakers will share the stage with fresh-thinking innovators and startup bosses who aim to make world trade more robust, sustainable and inclusive.
Join us over 3 days to:
- Learn how macroeconomic trends will affect your business and investments
- Examine the latest digital trade technologies and solutions to stay ahead of the competition
- Evaluate innovative opportunities in sustainable, equal and inclusive trade
- Hear practical, actionable solutions from corporate leaders, innovators, policymakers and experts to incorporate into your firm’s trade strategy
Day 1: New World Order in Trade: What it means for you?
Opening remarks and briefing
The new world order: Global outlook and trade trends
Will 2021 be as bumpy as the previous year? In this opening session, we hear from The Economist Intelligence Unit about the outlook for world trade and the global economy for 2021 and beyond.
Opening remarks and briefing
The new world order: Global outlook and trade trends
Will 2021 be as bumpy as the previous year? In this opening session, we hear from The Economist Intelligence Unit about the outlook for world trade and the global economy for 2021 and beyond.
Opening keynote panel: Navigating the new normal
“A new president in America, a new head of the WTO, new trade opportunities for the UK, China’s growing influence on the world stage and unrelenting technological innovation to help boost resilience and tackle systemic trade challenges. What will it mean for your business, and what new opportunities await?
Future-focused: Agile trade
Insight session: Thriving amid change
What have corporate leaders and policymakers learned from 2020? How have they adapted to unforeseen and evolving risks, and what strategies did they put in place in response?
This session will give viewers a look into the minds of corporate leaders who implemented practical, achievable solutions to manage unprecedented problems. Their takeaways will help attendees cultivate and refine their own approaches.
Session close
Day 2: Digitalising the supply chain: A business imperative
Insight session: Resilient supply chains
In this session, we hear from the companies that experienced breakdowns in their global supply chains and managed to quickly adapt. How did they adjust manufacturing and distribution approaches, work with governments, and keep workers safe and healthy throughout?
Speakers will outline which approaches worked best, which technologies have been most effective and what further steps are needed to strengthen supply-chain resilience. Viewers can use these insights as a basis to make their supply chains more robust.
Future-focused: How to build a high-performing supply chain
Quick-fire presentations
What’s next for digital trade?
Digital trade has many purported benefits, but must be implemented strategically to maximise investment. What new technologies and networks are emerging to make supply chains more robust? How are business leaders tackling cyber security and data-privacy concerns? How can digital trade standards and data governance be made an industry-wide priority to foster greater tech integration?
In this session, attendees will learn about how to structure their digital trade and technology strategy according to their industries, geographies and budgets.
Session close
Day 3: Sustaining progress towards a greener future
Ambition vs reality: Fair and inclusive trade
This session will bring together two viewpoints: one that considers which aspects of globalisation must be retained while the other examines how to incorporate socially responsible trade principles into a redesign of global trade.
Future-focused: Can inclusive trade be as profitable?
Closing keynote interview: The world in 2030: Trade priorities and prospects
In this session, we invite a world leader to outline trade priorities and ambitions in the post-covid 19 era. Can the ambition become reality, and how will that affect economies, industries, societies and individuals?