Trade, investment and productive capacity are closely linked within the Financing for Development framework. The outcome adopted in Sevilla underscores the importance of mobilising private investment, strengthening productive capacities, building entrepreneurship ecosystems and improving access to finance for enterprises, particularly SMEs. It also highlights the need for stronger coherence between trade, investment and development strategies.
Discussions in the Financing for Development process have highlighted the importance of ensuring stronger coherence between trade, investment and financing frameworks to support productive capacity and enterprise growth. Persistent trade finance gaps, uneven participation in regional and global value chains and fragmentation across policy frameworks continue to affect the ability of many enterprises, particularly SMEs and entrepreneurs, to expand, invest and integrate into value chains.
As attention shifts toward implementation of the Sevilla commitments, this side event will examine how stronger alignment between trade, investment and enterprise policies can support productive transformation and enterprise growth, and how enhanced public-private cooperation can help translate policy priorities into concrete development outcomes.
Objective of the event
To identify practical approaches to strengthening coherence between trade, investment and enterprise policies in support of the implementation of the Financing for Development commitments adopted in Sevilla.
The event will examine how closer alignment between trade dynamics, investment frameworks and enterprise development can support productive capacity, facilitate private investment and enable enterprise and entrepreneurship growth, particularly for SMEs, including at firm level and within entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Bringing together perspectives from international organisations, financial institutions and the private sector, the discussion will aim to connect policy priorities with business realities and highlight actionable pathways to support productive investment and competitiveness through trade.
Key Topics
- Strengthening the link between trade dynamics, productive investment, enterprise and SME growth.
- Enhancing participation in regional and global value chains to support domestic productive capacity.
- Supporting SME internationalisation and participation in value chains through targeted enterprise development policies.
- Addressing trade finance gaps and improving access to finance for SMEs and exporters.
- Promoting greater coherence between trade, investment and enterprise development frameworks.
- Advancing public-private collaboration in the implementation of the Sevilla Financing for Development commitments.
Speakers
- Ms. Nan Collins, Director, UNCTAD
- Ms. Alice Slayton Clark, Senior Vice President for Trade, Investment, and Digital Policy at, United States Council for International Business (USCIB) Collins, Director of the Division on Investment and Enterprise
- Ms Shea Gopaul, IOE permanent representative to the UN
- Senior representative, international financial institution (World Bank Group/IFC or equivalent)
- Senior government representative (trade, industry or investment)
Moderator: Mr. Amadou Sako, Senior Adviser, IOE
Expected Outcomes
- Identification of practical approaches to strengthen coherence between trade, investment and enterprise policies, including entrepreneurship development, in support of the implementation of the Sevilla Financing for Development commitments.
- Clear policy messages on how trade can more effectively support productive investment, enterprise and entrepreneurship growth and SME participation in regional and global value chains.
- Strengthened dialogue between public and private stakeholders on implementation pathways within the Financing for Development follow-up process.
