UNCTAD Update (21-26 November 2020)
Our latest news, thought leadership and events
News
Prolonged closure and military operations have left Gaza’s regional economy on the verge of collapse. An UNCTAD report to the UN General Assembly, presented this week, stresses the urgent need to end the closure of Gaza so that its people can freely trade with the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory and the world. Download it.
UNCTAD published several studies and surveys this week. Firstly, we presented an UNCTAD study which shows that while rice is king in Laos, the government has put maize at the heart of its socio-economic development strategy. We identify three ways to help smallholder farmers in the Southeast Asian nation boost earnings from their crops. Read the story in: EN | FR | SP
We also produced the results of a survey of 23 developing countries and their e-commerce business ecosystem response to the coronavirus pandemic. We found that while some digital businesses are showing resilience, costs are rising for others.
Finally, UNCTAD also presented the 8th edition of our port management series and hosted a webinar on it. The publication spotlights the top work done by our Train For Trade programme graduates from Ghana, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria and the Philippines. Find out how ports in Africa and Asia are tackling common challenges - inluding cargo handling operations, land and waste management, digitalization and employee turnover - guided by UNCTAD.
Upcoming reports
UNCTAD will launch our annual Least Developed Countries Report 2020 next week. Mark the date: 3 December 2020 at midday (ET); 6pm (CET).
Upcoming events
Tackling illicit financial flows for sustainable development in Africa
UNCTAD is hosting a briefing on the Economic Development in Africa Report 2020 looking at "Tackling illicit financial flows for sustainable development in Africa". The event will be held virtually on 30 November 2020 from 3pm to 5pm Geneva time (9am to 11am New York time) via Webex. Join the Webex meeting here.
Meeting number (access code): 174 295 0232
Meeting password: Us6ZJe2y87G
This newsletter was prepared for you by the 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.
