The Commission provides the opportunity for member States and investment and development stakeholders to discuss key and emerging issues in the areas of investment and enterprise, and technology, and their implications for sustainable development, as well as policy solutions.

Investment facilitation for sustainable development

Investment facilitation helps investors establish and operate their businesses through the provision of information, transparent rules and regulations and streamlined administrative procedures, among other measures. Digital government tools, such as information portals and online single windows, play an important role in the implementation of investment facilitation policies. Investment facilitation currently has an important role in international policy discussions at the plurilateral, regional and bilateral levels, and it is a key priority for many national Governments.

Building on the long-standing policy advisory work of UNCTAD on investment facilitation, including as part of investment policy reviews, and experience across more than 30 countries with the implementation of digital business and investment facilitation tools, the meeting will be informed by a background note prepared by the secretariat. In the note, the focus will be on presenting key investment facilitation implementation priorities, elaborating on challenges and opportunities and showing how digital business and investment facilitation can form the foundation for effective electronic government (e-government) and effectively promote investment in the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Commission will review best practices in the implementation of business and investment facilitation policies in support of sustainable development, as well as the way forward in the use of digital business and investment facilitation tools to develop wider e-government practices.

Harnessing blockchain technologies for sustainable development

Over the years, user awareness of blockchain technologies has grown, the technical sophistication of these technologies has increased, and the number of use cases has expanded. Some Governments have been exploring blockchain in pilot projects, yet many struggle to understand the unique features and advantages of blockchain over traditional database systems. While blockchain is commonly associated with cryptocurrencies, its potential extends to various sectors that could contribute to accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Commission is invited to explore options for harnessing blockchain technologies for sustainable development. The Commission will also examine the challenges confronting developing countries in the application of blockchain technology and solutions to build capacities for blockchain innovation according to the developmental level of countries. Discussion at the Commission will allow the identification of potential areas for international collaboration.

Reports of meetings:

• Multi-year Expert Meeting on Investment, Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Productive Capacity-building and Sustainable Development.
• Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting.

Participation

The Commission is open to all member States of UNCTAD. Specialized agencies, intergovernmental bodies, investment promotion agencies, non-governmental organizations (general and special category) are also eligible to participate as observers.

Registration

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

Logistics

The session will be held with physical participation in room XVII of the Palais des Nations. Those who cannot attend the meeting 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 day in advance of the start of the session.