From decisions to actions: Investment and enterprise development as catalysts for accomplishing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – Enterprise and information and communications technology

The Investment, Enterprise and Development Commission,

       Reiterating that entrepreneurship, as one of the most important drivers of job creation and economic growth, has a pivotal role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,

       Noting that entrepreneurship development requires the proactive role of Governments, and a systemic approach,

1. Acknowledges the relevance and usefulness of the UNCTAD Entrepreneurship Policy Framework for the assessment, review and promotion of entrepreneurship policies in member States; and recommends its wide dissemination as a contribution to policy formulation and capacity-building, in accordance with its mandate;
    
2. Welcomes the development of entrepreneurship development strategies targeted to special population groups, such as women, migrants and youth, as well as the implementation of related capacity-building programmes, including the Empretec and Business Linkage programmes;
    
3. Commends the valuable contribution of the UNCTAD Business Facilitation programme; and invites the secretariat to continue its exchanges of best practices in the development of online platforms of regulations and administrative procedures, as well as investment attraction tools that can facilitate investment in the Sustainable Development Goals;
    
4. Reaffirms the critical role of technology, including information and communications technology, and innovation in trade and development, and as one of the more important drivers of change for achieving inclusive and sustainable development;
    
5. Recognizes that science, technology and innovation, including new and emerging technologies, open new possibilities for solving long-standing problems in many areas of concern addressed by the Sustainable Development Goals, and that science, technology and innovation-driven entrepreneurship, in particular, can provide a means to create employment opportunities and empower women and youth; and further recognizes that fast technological change presents particular challenges to developing countries that lack sufficient technological capabilities to fully benefit from technological change and innovation;
    
6. Notes with appreciation the opportunity to consider practical experiences that illustrate how entrepreneurship and innovation can be complementary and mutually reinforcing elements in support of the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals;
    
7. Expresses its satisfaction for the quality of the policy dialogue that took place concerning the role of public policies in supporting the emergence and development of innovative entrepreneurship that contributes to the achievement of inclusive and sustainable development;
    
8. Recognizes the need to expand UNCTAD discussions on the matter of science, technology and innovation for development, so as to address, inter alia, new policy frameworks that leverage science, technology and innovation for more inclusive and sustainable development, including in the context of the policy and technical cooperation work of UNCTAD;
    
9. Welcomes the new role of UNCTAD as co-leader of the Inter-agency Task Team of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism; and encourages the delivery of practical outcomes by the Task Team, to support developing countries in the field of science, technology and innovation for development;
    
10. Welcomes the collaboration of UNCTAD with the newly established Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries; and encourages the secretariat to cooperate with the Bank in the areas relevant to its mandate and expertise;
     
11. Requests the secretariat to continue to facilitate the exchange of experiences and mutual learning about science, technology and innovation policies for inclusive and sustainable development; to keep the Commission informed of evolving best practices in the field of science, technology and innovation policy for inclusive and sustainable development; in this respect, to continue cross-fertilization with its work for the Commission on Science and Technology for Development; and to incorporate such best practices in technical cooperation and capacity-building activities in science, technology and innovation policy.