This Intergovernmental Group of Experts aims to strengthen the work of UNCTAD on information and communications technologies, e-commerce and the digital economy for development, so as to enhance its ability to support developing countries to engage in and benefit from the evolving digital economy, and reduce the digital divide, for the creation of more inclusive knowledge societies.

The substantive agenda items for the 8th session are as follows:

• Making digitalization work for inclusive and sustainable development.
• Working Group on Measuring E-commerce and the Digital.

Participation

This session is open to all member States of UNCTAD. Other organizations, including specialized agencies, intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental organizations in the general and special categories, as well as academia and the private sector, may participate as observers.

Written contributions

To facilitate deliberations and the informal exchange of experiences and good practices on the topics to be discussed, member States and observers are requested to submit written contributions to the UNCTAD secretariat by Friday, 25 April 2025, at [email protected].

Written contributions that share experiences, good practices and forward-looking suggestions with regard to the trade and development dimension of inclusive and environmentally sustainable digitalization, as well as related policies, are welcome, to inform the discussion on the first substantive agenda item, based on the following guiding questions approved by the Trade and Development Board at its seventy-sixth executive session:

• What are the main environmental impacts of digitalization over its life cycle and how can they be addressed, and what are the implications from the trade and development perspective, particularly for developing countries?
• How can sustainable development gains from digitalization be ensured over its life cycle, looking particularly, among others, at critical minerals linked to the digital transformation process and waste management?
• How can national, regional and international policymaking and cooperation contribute to digitalization that is sustainable and inclusive and addresses environmental impacts, in particular for those furthest behind?

Registration

Online registration is mandatory for all those wishing to attend the meeting and is required in order to be included in the list of participants

Logistics

The session will be held with physical participation in room XIX of the Palais des Nations. 

Those who cannot attend the session in person will be able to listen to the live audio stream in the six official languages of the United Nations. 

The link to listen live will be sent to registered participants, at the email address used for registration, one hour before the start of the session.