• Welcome speech by the representative of the government of Chile
• Welcome speech by the representative of UNCTAD
• Welcome speech by the representative of SELA
• Welcome speech by the representative of ECL

This session will focus on the development gains, which can be achieved through the development of the services sector. The importance of universal access to basic services for progressing in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), including through the provision of services such as potable water, sanitation and environmental services, energy, health, education and telecommunications will be highlighted. The importance of the services sector and of services trade for national strategies for promoting job creation will also be debated.

Finally, the session will discuss the preconditions that will enable services to play their role as catalyst for economic growth and as key inputs into the agriculture and manufacturing sectors as well as Global Value Chains.

This session will present the main findings and recommendations of the Nicaragua and Peru Services Policy Reviews (SPRs) and of the Jamaica Trade Policy Framework. Through these experiences, the session will discuss about the identification of strategies to develop the sector and take advantage of services trade opportunities, including through the establishment of coherent and integrated policy, regulatory and institutional frameworks.

This session will focus on the process of turning countries trade and development policies relating to the services sector into practice. It will discuss the multiple reasons (including mismatch between the selected policies and the country situation, limited human, institutional and financial resources, etc.) behind the gaps that are often observed between what was planned and what actually occurred because of a policy. Suggestions will be made on how countries can improve policy implementation.

This session will take stock of the extent to which stakeholders are successfully involved in policy-making and preparations for trade negotiations relating to services. Participants will discuss examples of successful collaborations but also shortcomings and suggest innovative ways to strengthen the role of multi-stakeholder consultations in services-related policy formulation, implementation and review.

This session will analyze data and salient features regarding flows in extra- and intra-LAC services trade. It will also discuss the liberalization of services within multilateral negotiations and regional integration initiatives, as well as cooperation and harmonization frameworks for services in LAC. Particular attention will be devoted to the importance of specific modes of supply in services trade flows and to the trend towards comprehensive trade agreements.

This session will present a vision for the development of services and services trade in LAC. The specific needs of the continent, particularly in terms of supply-side capacity will be outlined. In addition, suggestions on how to promote services supply and export capacities will be discussed, with an emphasis on possible trade and cooperative regional efforts to address the needs identified.

This session will discuss partnerships to develop services supply and export capacity (i) among different stakeholders at the national level and (ii) between domestic constituencies and development cooperation partners. Suggestions will be made on mechanisms to ensure successful partnerships and to maximize the benefits of cooperation and support provided.