Introduction: The Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report (ARTIR) 2023/24 highlighted the significant potential of digital trade to promote the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). This course is developed based on the APTIR 2023/24 and aims to enhance the capacity of policymakers, particularly in trade and investment domains, to leverage digital trade and investment for achieving SDGs. It will help you understand conditional factors and the current situations of policy and cooperation, and how to ensure conducive environments that maximize the positive impacts of digital trade and investment on the SDGs. 

Course format: This course includes 8 video modules (10-15 minutes each), readings, and online quizzes to be viewed and completed over a 3-week period. Two 90-minute live sessions will be organized for deeper discussions with distinguished guest experts. Two optional quiz explanation sessions will be provided to help participants understand selected difficult quiz questions.  

8 mandatory pre-recorded modules include: 

M1: The role of digital trade and investment in sustainable development 

M2: Trends in digital trade and investment in Asia and the Pacific 

M3: Trends and development in digital trade and investment policies 

M4: Promoting sustainable development in digital trade: The role of trade and complementary policies 

M5: Achieving sustainable development through multilateral and regional cooperation in digital trade 

M6: Sustainability impact of ICT goods trade and digital trade-related policies 

M7: Attracting digital FDI to cultivate a sustainable and inclusive economy 

M8: The way forward 

2 live sessions will be held on 18 and 25 September, 19:00-20:30 UTC+7. 

Certificate: Participants who pass the online quizzes, attend the live sessions, and fill course evaluation survey will receive free online traceable course certificates from ESCAP, UNCTAD, and UNIDO. 

Registration: Please register as soon as possible by 9 September (kindly note that the seats are limited and the registration forms will be screened). You will receive an email confirming that you are successfully registered with instructions for taking the course no later than 8 September. 

Co-organizer(s): UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and UN Industrial and Development Organization (UNIDO).