THE World Trade Organisation (WTO) said on Tuesday they will host a virtual event from March 23-25 to explore the trade-related challenges in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and make the case for the mobilisation of Aid-for-Trade financing to support recovery and foster resilience.

The Aid for Trade "stocktaking" event will look into measures to assist developing and in particular least-developed countries increase their trade capacity and recover from the crisis, said an official statement.

Aid for Trade is a multi-stakeholder initiative seeking to mobilise resources to address the trade-related needs and supply-side constraints identified by developing countries and least-developed countries.

The event will be organized around several themes like COVID-19, debt and financing, promoting an inclusive and green recovery, digital connectivity and e-commerce, global value chains, supply side capacity during the pandemic, adapting trade formalities and regional approached the post-pandemic recovery.

"Over the past 25 years, trade has generated sustained global economic growth, higher income levels and reduced poverty. We must ensure that progress and associated developmental gains are not reversed," it said.

The event, which was approved during the October meeting of the Committee on Trade and Development, will hold public sessions, with the programme made available by mid-February.