UNCTAD will host the third UN Trade Forum to identify trade policies to help countries grow their economies while tackling challenges and accelerating progress towards achieving the SDGs.

UNCTAD - in its latest Trade and Development Report Update - warns that developing countries are facing years of difficulty as the global economy slows down amid heightened financial turbulence. Annual growth across large parts of the global economy will fall below pre-pandemic levels and well below the decade of strong growth before the global financial crisis. Developing countries are facing a projected foregone income of $800 billion and battling unprecedented levels of debt distress. Global growth in 2023 is expected to drop to 2.1%, compared to the 2.2% projected in September 2022.

For 15 years, Mavilde de Assunção Alves has struggled to maintain her hives, which have dwindled from 15 to 8. After attending a UNCTAD training workshop, she’s more confident about the future.

World trade hit a record $32 trillion in 2022, but growth turned negative in the last half of the year. Environmentally friendly products defied the trend.

The Bhutanese government launched the ground-breaking G2B digital government portal, using UNCTAD’s customizable digital platform, making it the fastest place in the world to start a new business.

Complex and stringent rules of origin, the “passport” for goods, can prevent businesses from taking advantage of trade preferences, according to a new study by UNCTAD.

Only eight years remain to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. CEOs are calling for more concrete commitments to sustainability in businesses, according to the 12th UN Global Compact-Accenture CEO Study.  This year’s study, “Reimagining the agenda,” provides perspectives from a record 2,600+ CEOs across 128 countries and 18 industries. The report explores the challenges and uncertainties that business leaders face today and the opportunity surrounding sustainability as the path forward. The report will be presented at the World Economic Forum (Davos, Switzerland, 16-20 January).

Global trade should hit a record $32 trillion for 2022, but a slowdown that began in the second half of the year is expected to worsen in 2023 according to UNCTAD’s Global Trade Update.

Hemp is an amazing plant that is eco-friendly and used in food products, biofuels, textiles and even building materials. Its global market could hit $18.6 billion by 2027, a new UNCTAD report says.

Celebrating female entrepreneurship, a recent UNCTAD publication tells the stories of 21 women from developing countries who’ve defied a myriad of challenges to build successful businesses.

A new UNCTAD report calls for increased investment in maritime supply chains. Ports, shipping fleets and hinterland connections need better prepare for future global crises and climate change.

A new report by UNCTAD explores how urban entrepreneurs, or urbanpreneurs, use innovative solutions to tackle challenges triggered by rapid urbanization and drive the expansion of smart cities.

UNCTAD’s eTrade readiness assessment for Peru will provide diagnostics of how the country is taking advantage of digitalization and e-commerce for development.

In the second episode of their Weekly Tradecast featured in UN News, UNCTAD talks to Paul Akiwumi, Director of the Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programme division. Soaring food and energy prices are hitting especially hard as the region struggles with the impact of the pandemic and climate change. The continent of 1.4 billion people relies heavily on grain and other essentials from Ukraine and Russia – exposing them to shortages and crippling costs that imperil development. Mr. Akiwumi, who led the production of the UN trade and development body’s latest Economic Development in Africa Report, says that to cope with this crisis and insulate itself for the future, Africa must rethink how it diversifies its economies to attract investment and narrow huge income gaps.

Blue BioTrade is the sustainable use and trade of marine resources in a way that improves livelihoods while protecting our ocean.  UNCTAD and partners promote a Blue BioTrade project in the Caribbean region that aims to empower small-scale producers to prepare and trade queen conch products under the Blue BioTrade environmental, social and economic sustainability criteria. Queen conch is a highly appreciated seafood delicacy with important non-food uses.