The first edition of the UPU TradePost Webinar on 20 June 2023 is under the theme of “Enhancing postal contribution in e-commerce and trade inclusion of MSMEs and under-represented communities in ECOWAS”. The webinar will bring together postal executives from the ECOWAS region, representatives from trade ministries, relevant international and regional organizations (UNCTAD, ECOWAS), and industry experts to discuss the most pressing topics, exchange experiences, and share their insights.
The main objectives of the webinar are to:
- provide senior managers and senior officials from Postal Operators and postal regulators in the ECOWAS region with relevant and insightful information on future regional strategy for e-commerce.
- share best practices and concrete examples on trade inclusion of MSMEs and underrepresented communities in Africa.
- promote discussion on regulatory challenges of trade facilitation and e-commerce
- promote and showcase UPU projects, solutions, and services
A report of the event will be published on the UPU website and submitted for reference in regional development initiatives.
- Senior executives from postal operators in ECOWAS
- E-commerce platforms and e-sellers
- Regulators from different fields (postal, communications, financial, trade, etc.)
Interpretation is available in French and English
 Mr Marjan Osvald UPU Deputy Director General |
Mr Isaac Gnamba Yao CEO of La Poste de Côte d'Ivoire - Chairman of the UPU Council of Administration |
 Mr Siva Somasundram Director of Policy, Regulation and Markets - UPU |
Economic affairs officer - Digital Economy Capacity Building Section, UNCTAD |
Digital Trade Expert - AfCFTA Secretariat, African Union |  Mr Adama Diouf Executive Secretary CEPEAO |
 Mrs Marie Nde Sene Program Officer e-Applications & e-Government - ECOWAS | |
Mrs Martine Julsaint Kidane
Mr Talkmore Chidede| 11:00 – 11:15 | Opening of the Forum Keynote Address: Mr Marjan Osvald, UPU Deputy Director General Moderator: Mr. Isaac Gnamba-Yao, CEO of La Poste de Côte d'Ivoire, Chairman of the UPU Council of Administration |
| 11:15 – 11:30 | Postal Trade Facilitation and SME Enablement Mr Siva Somasundram, Director of Policy, Regulations and Markets |
| 11:30 – 11:45 | E-commerce situation in ECOWAS – eT Ready assessments Mrs Martine Julsaint Kidane, Economic affairs officer, Digital Economy Capacity Building Section, UNCTAD |
| 11:45 – 12:00 | The role of the AfCFTA in facilitating intra-African trade and the role of the Postal sector Mr. Talkmore Chidede, Digital Trade Expert, AfCFTA Secretariat, African Union |
| 12:00 – 12:15 | Postal contribution for e-commerce and trade facilitation in ECOWAS Mr Adama Diouf, Executive Secretary CEPEAO |
| 12:15 – 12:30 | ECOWAS e-commerce strategy and the potential role played by the postal sector in its development, Mrs Marie Nde SENE, Program Officer e-Applications & e-Government, ECOWAS |
| 12:30 – 12:45 | Case study: The Post of Côte d’Ivoire’s contribution to the trade and e-commerce inclusion of MSMEs underrepresented communities Mr Jean Kacou Adueni, Director of Projects and Prospects, La Poste de Côte d’Ivoire |
| 12:45 – 13:00 | Roundtable / Q&A |
| 13:00 – 13:10 | Conclusions |
Register at this link