2018 UNCTAD e-commerce week: development dimension of digital platforms

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) organised the e-Commerce Week 2018, from 16 to 20 April. The event brought together stakeholders to discuss development opportunities and challenges associated with the evolving digital economy. This year, the overarching theme was the development dimension of digital platforms. The key role that these platforms play in facilitating international trade was discussed, as well as their potentially disruptive influence on the economy and the job market. The second meeting of the Group of Intergovernmental Experts on E-commerce also took place during the e-commerce week, under the theme ‘Fostering Development Gains from Domestic and Cross-border E-commerce in Developing Countries’. The discussions were guided by some questions proposed for reflection, and member states and observers were invited to present written contributions beforehand. Their inputs have been made available online. The GIP Digital Watch Observatory and DiploFoundation provided just-in-time reporting from most sessions at the UNCTAD e-commerce week and from the second meeting of the group of intergovernmental experts on e-commerce.