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Global plastics trade hit record $1.2 trillion

Reducing plastics in world trade is key to tackling pollution, protecting our ocean and fighting climate change.

Scaling up plastic substitutes is key to tackling pollution

Nature abounds in sustainable alternatives to plastics, but companies and countries must work across borders to boost their production and tackle barriers.

Continuation of the Black Sea Initiative

The UN welcomes the continuation of the initiative, which has moved over 30 million tons of food, helping to bring down global prices and stabilize markets.

Launch of the Trade and Environment Review 2023

The report highlights the opportunities the ocean holds for developing countries and calls for a global "Blue Deal" to protect and invest in its resources.

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Efforts are underway in Rwanda to ease e-commerce through mobile payment services.

Rwanda steps up policy efforts to spur e-commerce growth

UNCTAD supports Rwanda to develop a strategy to ease digital trade and make progress towards leaving the group of least developed countries.

29 May 2023

About half of the Angola population lives in coastal areas and relies on fisheries for livelihoods.

Angola casts net wider to scale up fish exports

UNCTAD supports the nation rich in aquatic resources to diversify its exports through the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

26 May 2023

With appropriate policy action, e-commerce has the potential to further gender equality.

What women in developing countries need to thrive in e-commerce

Experts examine the challenges to overcome to level the digital trade playing field for women in developing countries and boost gender equality.

24 May 2023

Kenya leverages public–private partnerships to increase renewable energy consumption.

How markets and consumers can drive sustainability

Experts spotlight key areas where competition and consumer protection policies can promote sustainable consumption and production.

16 May 2023

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The Weekly Tradecast

Pollution solution: How plastic substitutes can help economies and the planet

As the UN prepares to mark World Environment Day, this episode of The Weekly Tradecast talks about replacing plastic with natural materials with David Vivas, an UNCTAD legal officer working on trade and environmental issues.

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Featured publications

Formulating strategic policy responses to open green windows of opportunity

Trade and Environment Review 2023

E-commerce from a gender and development perspective

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Pulse of the global cost-of-living crisis

Benin triples number of companies opened by youth in 2022

The country’s young people are chasing their entrepreneurial dreams amid a digitalization boom powered by e-government tools developed by UNCTAD.

Promoting sustainable ports in Peru

UNCTAD training inspires a nationwide project across key Peruvian ports, boosting progress towards sustainability, gender equality and economic development.

Angola: Empowering women through honey

An UNCTAD project is harnessing the power of bees to help women improve their livelihoods while creating sustainable opportunities in rural communities in the southern African nation.