World Export Development Forum 2017 25-26 October, Budapest Trade – A force for good: Include Innovate Integrate Please visit the ITC website for WEDF 2017 video highlights.
2 Notes World Export Development Forum 2017 The 17th edition of ITC’s flagship event, the World Export Development Forum, was this year - for the first time - held in Eastern Europe. The event was co-hosted in Budapest by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary . Ministry agencies such as the Hungarian TPO - the Hungarian National Trading House -, the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency (HIPA), and the Hungarian EXIM Bank were also committed and involved. 637 attendees from 65 countries participated in WEDF 2017, 42% of whom came from business, 27% from government, and 12% from trade and investment institutions. Others included international organizations, academia, and NGOs.
3 World Export Development Forum Talking business, doing business and rewarding business - High-level plenaries and practical how-to sessions - Business-to-business event - Young entrepreneurs competition Giving equal opportunity and exposure to different regions 2017: Hungary; 2016: Sri Lanka; 2015: Qatar; 2014: Rwanda; 2012: Indonesia; 2011: Turkey; etc. Identifying a narrative that influences the current global debate on trade and development
4 Notes World Export Development Forum (WEDF) WEDF is not only a platform for discussions on trade and development issues but also for doing business. We want to give business a voice and opportunity to connect AND to trade. WEDF therefore also features a two-day B2B event. This year’s facilitated B2B meetings focused on agricultural technologies, agricultural crops and oil seeds. The WEDF location changes every year to give equal opportunity and exposure to different regions. Each year, we are choosing a theme that guides the programme design. This year we wanted to underline the message that trade is a force for good if adequate trade and domestic policies are in place, countering protectionist rhetoric and tendencies. This year’s theme was ‘Trade – a force for good’. The key ideas of ‘inclusion’, ‘innovation’ and ‘ integration ’ were reflected in the programme sessions.
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6 Notes WEDF programme overview The programme overview on the previous slide shows the combination of plenaries, how-to sessions and B2B meetings. It also highlights the connection between B2B sector and choice of topics in the WEDF programme, especially on Day 2, when sessions on agribusiness, green business models and examples of the circular economy in action were offered to cater to B2B event participants.
7 The WEDF plenaries Common theme: Include – innovate – integrate
8 Notes The WEDF plenaries • Making trade work for the 99% • New regional trade routes • Innovation for trade competitiveness • Green means business • From waste to wealth In the plenary ‘New regional trade routes’, findings of the ITC flagship report ‘SME Competitiveness Outlook’ were featured. Hungary, as WEDF host, could highlight investment in this flagship report, and ITC and Hungary worked together towards a detailed analysis of SME competitiveness of its businesses. Common theme: Include – innovate – integrate
9 The how-to sessions Common theme: Include – innovate – integrate
10 Notes The how-to sessions While we remain committed to high-level discussions at WEDF, we are working on making WEDF more and more relevant for business and for other partners by offering practical solutions. How-to sessions serve this purpose, and WEDF 2017 featured • Taking an idea global • From waste to wealth • SheTrades – Making it happen SheTrades, the ITC initiative to bring one million women to market by 2020, was also featured in the how-to session. This inspired the consideration of new SheTrades chapters, including by Ghana. Common theme: Include – innovate – integrate
11 New at WEDF: Young entrepreneurs competition The winner: Michael K. Ocansey, AgroCenta, Ghana aims to improve the agricultural value chain in Ghana through an online sales platform that connects smallholder farmers directly to online markets.
12 Notes New at WEDF: Young entrepreneurs competition New to WEDF was the Young Entrepreneurs competition , which was prepared in collaboration with Geneva-based incubator Impact Hub and Budapest-based incubator Design Terminal. The candidates - young social entrepreneurs with innovative business models to facilitate transactions in agribusiness (aligned with the B2B sector and corresponding WEDF sub-themes) – came from Hungary as well as from Sub-Saharan Africa who were selected through the Impact Hub’s Accelerate 2030 programme. Common theme: Include – innovate – integrate
13 B2B meetings Agricultural technologies, crops, oil seeds
14 Notes B2B meetings Agricultural technologies, crops, oil seeds Around 100 companies from 17 countries conducted bilateral meetings at the B2B event, with a little over half of them coming from the host country. Over 300 pre-arranged bilateral meetings were held. Ad-hoc meetings were also held by companies that discovered common interests at the event. An exhibition of Hungarian companies during WEDF also added to the opportunities to meet new business partners. We are currently following up with the B2B participants to evaluate business leads from WEDF. However, anecdotal evidence of business leads already exist. Here are a few examples of success stories that emerged from WEDF. A Colombian company plans to use Hungarian oil-processing technology to move up the value chain, from selling raw nuts to processed products. A company from the Myanmar delegation negotiated to import corn oil in bulk from Hungary, add value through packaging for the retail market in Myanmar, and to export sesame seeds for further processing in Hungary. A Qatari company is interested in advanced water treatment technology from Hungary. A Gambian company will explore, with the support of the Eurochambers Philippines, cooperation with companies from the Philippines that have integrated circular solutions into their production processes to transform mango waste into value-added products.
15 An interactive #WEDF17
16 Notes An interactive #WEDF17 WEDF aims to be more and more interactive, and WEDF 2017 succeeded by encouraging a strong engagement of the audience in the room and by streaming all sessions via Facebook live. In addition, seven Facebook live interviews were conducted. ITC offered to follow sessions live in Geneva, supported by experts, giving those who could not attend the event the opportunity to feed in questions during the Q&A segments. WEDF had strong social media coverage, with videos viewed almost 20,000 times on Facebook, and a reach of seven million on Twitter.
17 Strengthening and expanding networks, creating new opportunities
18 Notes Strengthening and expanding networks, creating new opportunities WEDF facilitates networking and helps create new opportunities. Only a few examples: Phase IV of the The Netherlands Trust Fund, mainly benefitting Sierra Leone, Uganda, Myanmar and Senegal, was launched at WEDF – an opportunity to express appreciation for an important partnership. A strong presence of EXIM Banks, including of the Hungarian Exim Bank, AfrExim Bank and the Ghana EXIM Bank, allowed for businesses to discuss new opportunities for financing. Momarr Mass Taal, CEO of Tropingo Food of the Gambia, was offered a scholarship by eBSI Export Academy. Afghani and Ukrainian participants met with our CNBC Africa moderator to discuss the opening plenary and also take the opportunity to share their positive experience with the SME Academy.
19 WEDF 2018 host: Zambia
20 Notes WEDF 2018 host: Zambia In the closing session of WEDF 2017, the host of WEDF 2018 was announced. Ms. Kayula Agnes Siame, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Zambia, announced that her country will be hosting the next WEDF. We invite you to be involved in WEDF 2018 and look forward to keeping you informed of the developments – and are available for any questions you may have. Thank you. Sibylle Neuhaus, Communications and Events neuhaus@intracen.org
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