Innovated Approaches Needed to Govern Digital Economy, Ensure Fair Distribution, Address Risks, Deputy Secretary-General Says in Message for eCommerce Week

(Delayed for technical reasons)

Following is the text of UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s video message to the opening ceremony of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) eCommerce Week, held in Geneva from 25 to 29 April:

The world is experiencing major challenges.  The devastating impact of COVID‑19 now risks being compounded by the war in Ukraine.  In these unprecedented times, multilateralism and partnership are critically important.  The eCommerce Week 2022 offers a rare opportunity for countries and stakeholders to come together to discuss a major new opportunity for sustainable development:  data and digitalization.

While digitalization represents a powerful force for good, enabling us to tackle development needs in novel ways, it also presents new challenges.  Unless those challenges are addressed, digitalization could result in lower levels of trust in Government, new inequalities and even wider digital divides, including based on gender.

Digital data are now a key strategic asset, creating both private and social value.  The use of data has implications not just for trade and economic development but for human rights, and peace and security.  How we deal with data will have a huge impact on our ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

It is high time for Member States, in dialogue with other stakeholders, to devise strategies for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through enhanced multilateral governance of our global commons and global public goods.  As the Secretary-General has outlined in his report on Our Common Agenda, data is no different from other global commons and global public goods.  It should be governed as such.

We need innovative approaches to governing data and the digital economy to ensure a more equitable distribution of the gains while addressing risks and concerns.  I hope the United Nations, Governments, the private sector and civil society can come together in preparation for the Summit of the Future next year to agree on a Global Digital Compact.

This eCommerce Week is a key step on this journey as it offers a unique platform to discuss development opportunities and challenges associated with data and digitalization.  I wish you all a fruitful conference.