Re-thinking Supply Chain Resilience Amid and Beyond COVID-19

This webinar is part of the Project “Research Network Sustainable Global Supply Chains” hosted by the German Development Institute (DIE), the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA), the Kiel Institute for World Economy (IfW) and the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP).

Global supply chains are exposed to a variety of vulnerabilities, including geopolitical changes and unpredictable disruptions. With the Covid-19 pandemic unfolding, the world is witnessing a fundamental change to the global economic landscape, forcing companies and political decision-makers alike to rethink and transform traditional global supply chain models. Central to this process is the question of resilience and sustainability of supply chains. Economic changes, natural disasters but also long-term environmental damage or disregard for human rights bear the potential for conflict, making it imperative for companies to evaluate and revise their risk management along the entire value chain. Against the background of the ongoing efforts of the European Union to introduce legislation on mandatory sustainable due diligence, this virtual conference explores the following questions: How do we shape tomorrow’s supply chains to be both resilient and sustainable? Can re-shoring or near-shoring be a solution to the problem, particularly in light of further technological advancement? And what does a due diligence law mean for Europe’s global competitiveness, especially vis-a-vis trade giants such as China?