Building technological capacities can help countries escape commodity dependence
UNCTAD Update (3-9 July 2021)
Our latest news, thought leadership and events
News
UNCTAD released a joint report with the UN World Tourism Organization this week. About 64% of developing economies rely on exporting primary goods, and most risk continuing down a path of commodity dependence unless they embrace technology-enabled structural transformation. So says UNCTAD's new Commodities and Development Report 2021, published this week. More in English, Français or Español.
UNCTAD's new Least Developed Countries (LDC) Chart of Month shows that over half of all people in LDCs lack access to electricity hampering development ambitions. More.
Then, UNCTAD’s intergovernmental meeting on consumer protection held on 5 and 6 July brought together experts and governments to examine how to better protect consumers who are in a more precarious situation due to the economic and health crisis triggered by COVID-19. Vulnerable and disadvantaged consumers are struggling to pay for basic utilities in the wake of job losses and reduced incomes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Find out more.
A new report, issued in June also shows how technical and financial assistance to poorer nations will help alleviate the costs of a planned transition to low-carbon shipping. Read more about this.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could add at least 32 new trade partners to Egypt and help diversify and upgrade the country’s economy. But to fully benefit from the AfCFTA, Egypt needs to update its policy approach for economic transformation, says the country’s Production Transformation Policy Review released on 8 June. Get the review and news.
Upcoming events
HLPF Side-event and pre-event to UNCTAD15: UNCTAD support to the decade of action through a revigorated multilateralism, 12 July, 7:30-9am (NYT)
UNCTAD Acting Secretary-General, Isabelle Durant, will brief and interact with delegates on UNCTAD 15, its importance for multilateralism as asymmetries and vulnerabilities are increasing. She will also provide an update on the status of the negotiations of the outcome document, which will guide UNCTAD’s work over the next quadrennial.
The pre-event will also offer an opportunity for New York-based delegates to exchange with the Acting SG and explore better Geneva-New York linkages in the areas of international trade, finance, investment, technology, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development aiming to improve SDGs aligned solutions that address inequalities, asymmetries, and vulnerabilities, and reach prosperity for all – the theme of UNCTAD 15. Click here to join the meeting
HLPF: Investing in the SDGs, 12 July, 9-11:30am (NYT)
Join Nina Angelovska, global UNCTAD advocate for Women in eTrade and former Minister of Finance of North Macedonia, for a session that will explore concrete policy recommendations that can catalyse investments into the SDGs within the context of pressing debt sustainability challenges faced by developing countries across the globe. Register here.
Visit UNCTAD's meeting page for more events like these.
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This newsletter was prepared for you by UNCTAD New York Office of the Secretary-General
Email: UNCTADNY2@un.org
Visit our dedicated website page for more on UNCTAD’s work in monitoring the effects of the global pandemic on manufacturing, trade, foreign direct investment, and economic growth and new resources we offer to address them.
