The Government of Rwanda, through the Rwanda Development Board, will host WEDF 2014 in Kigali. Rwanda, an excellent gateway for doing business in the East African region and beyond, is an emerging services and outsourcing hub. It has been ranked by the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitive Index Report 2013-2014 as the most competitive country in East Africa and the third on the entire African continent.

The theme of WEDF 2014, ‘SMEs: Creating jobs through trade,’ reflects the importance that ITC and its partners attach to the role of a vibrant private sector in driving trade-led growth and development. The urgent need to create employment opportunities, in particular for youth, will be at the core of the discussions between global thinkers and practitioners from the public and private sectors. They will explore the necessary policy and support measures required to enable SMEs to realize their potential as growth and employment drivers. The task for governments, trade support institutions, trade and investment promotion authorities, multinationals and the international development community is to unlock SMEs’ potential by investing in building productive capacity, improving skills and supporting access to capital and finance. SME competitiveness is a key factor in determining a country’s overall competitiveness and its ability to respond to international market demand.

The programme

WEDF 2014 will explore how SMEs can become and remain competitive by addressing issues that impact their entrepreneurial capacity and operating environment. Developments in trade facilitation, regional integration, South-South cooperation and trade in services will be examined.

In the main sessions, high-level speakers and participants working in complex and dynamic environments will share best practices to address the challenges faced by developing countries and economies in transition, and propose solutions based on the principles of partnership, inclusiveness and sustainability.

See the full programme.

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Background

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.