[Geneva, 17-21 February, 2025]

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) hosted the 4^th edition of the Trade for Peace (T4P) week in Geneva themed “Expanding Horizons: Integrating the Private Sector & Advancing the Trade for Peace Programme”. The event brought together policymakers, private sector representatives and international organizations to explore how trade can contribute to fostering peace and economic resilience in fragile and conflict-affected states. Running from 17 until 21 February, the 4^th edition of the event focused on the evolving role of businesses in peacebuilding and economic development.

The T4P Week featured several interactive sessions, panel discussions and strategic dialogues, bringing together key stakeholders in the field of trade and peace. On day four of the event, TrustWorks CEO and founder, Josie Lianna Kaye, took part in an interactive discussion focusing on SMEs in the session “Inclusive Trade for Peace: SMEs as Pillars of Growth and Stability” organized by International Trade Centre (ITC).

The discussion centred around how trade policies can anchor reforms for SME growth and stability and the pivotal role of SMEs as foundations for peace and resilience. Josie’s intervention highlighted that the discourse around small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) tends to overlook and/or minimise the importance of the broad spectrum of SMEs in fragile and conflict-affected settings (FCS) and the dynamics associated with their impacts.

To learn more about the unique challenges faced by SMEs and those supporting and/or managing SME facilities, as well as their respective opportunities to contribute to peace and stability, check out our study on the role of SMEs in FCS through the lens of peace and conflict issues. (Link)

Link to video recording of the Inclusive trade for peace event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6go9UdvjLGQ