UNCTAD

United Nations Conference
on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) aims to ensure that developing countries benefit more fairly from globalization. Established in 1964, UNCTAD provides analysis and technical assistance to help nations address challenges in international trade. Its core mission is to support countries in integrating effectively into the global trading system, diversifying economies beyond commodities, and attracting development-friendly investment, specifically focusing on people who have not yet gained from globalization.
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UNCTAD’s unique role is to drive sustainable, inclusive economic growth in developing countries. It collaborates with four major organizations—the World Bank, IMF, WTO, and UNDP—to advance the 'Financing for Development' agenda, which is closely linked to the Sustainable Development Goals. Through their efforts on fair competition, debt, South-South cooperation, and trade agreements, UNCTAD strengthens the capacity of developing countries to achieve equitable participation and sustainable development through trade, investment, finance, and technology.

Agenda

1. Developing measures for Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs) to alleviate trade imbalance in the global market.

2. Establishing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure for developing nations to enhance the inclusiveness of the global digital economy.

Agenda Introduction

[ 1 ] The Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs) face challenges of trade imbalance and a widened gap of global inequality. Many of the nations are dependent on the exports of primary commodities and low valued goods, which makes them vulnerable to price volatility. At the same time, the structural barriers of limited access to technology and restrictive trade policies hinder the LEDC’s ability to integrate into the higher segments of global value chains. The imbalances deepened the external debt burdens, constrained fiscal space and created the cycles of underdevelopment. The agenda focuses on the identification of developing concrete measures to support LEDCs in trade imbalances and enhancing productive capacities, further improving the access to finance and the global market by fairer multilateral trade rules. The UNCTAD seeks to build an improved inclusive global trading system that enables LEDCs to actively participate in the global market on development-oriented terms.

[ 2 ] The digitalization of the global economy still profoundly lacks robust Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure in developing nations. The existing inequalities have deepened and have created new forms of exclusion. Many nations face limited internet access, insufficient digital literacy, and high costs of access. These limitations prevent the citizens and enterprises from meaningfully participating in the digital economy. The digital divide not only restricts access to online financial platforms, but also undermines prospects for inclusive growth and social development. International actors are needed to coordinate for efforts to expand affordable and reliable ICT infrastructure with strengthened regulatory and institutional frameworks. Furthermore, in a societal perspective, governmental efforts to educate human capacity for digital skills is also needed. The agenda focuses on exploring strategies to support developing nations in upgrading their digital infrastructure and lessen the gap of digital inequality. Through these measures, UNCTAD seeks to enhance the inclusiveness of the global digital economy, ensuring the digital transformation as a driver of sustainable development rather than a source of further marginalization.

Country List
Please refer to the list when submitting your delegation preferences:

United Nations Conference​on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

United Nations Conference
on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)