Supporting diversification for sustainable and resilient development

The Trade and Development Commission

1. Recognizes that economic diversification, including through productive capacity-building, structural transformation, expansion of higher value added activities and sustainable export opportunities, and policy space that is consistent with international rules and commitments, together, remain essential for achieving sustainable, inclusive and resilient development in developing countries, particularly in the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, small island developing States and African countries;
2. Emphasizes the importance of promoting value addition, local processing, downstream activities and diversification through backward and lateral linkages to commodity value chains in commodity-dependent developing countries, across relevant commodity sectors and in line with national development priorities, including in agriculture and critical energy transition mineral value chains, in order to strengthen productive capacities, create decent jobs, enhance resilience and increase the development benefits derived from natural resources, and reduce reliance on raw-material exports;
3. Reaffirms the importance of a rules-based, non-discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive, equitable, predictable and transparent multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization at its core, and stresses the need for such a system to support diversification efforts and address trade restrictions and barriers to facilitate the meaningful participation of developing countries in global and regional value chains and contribute to sustainable development and resilient value chains;
4. Reiterates that special and differential treatment for developing countries and the least developed countries is an integral part of the World Trade Organization and its agreements, and should be precise, effective and operational, while recognizing the capacity constraints and structural vulnerabilities of developing countries in the multilateral trading system;
5. Recognizes the growing role of services, digitalization and servicification in supporting diversification, productivity growth and participation in international trade, and calls for strengthened support to developing countries to bridge the digital and technological divides and to improve digital access, digital infrastructure, connectivity, skills, data availability and regulatory capacities, to enable their effective participation in the global economy;
6. Recognizes that limited access to technology and related capacity may affect diversification efforts and digital transformation in developing countries, and underscores the importance of international cooperation and capacity-building to address such challenges;
7. Acknowledges the contribution of regional integration, regional trade agreements, South–South and North–South cooperation and trade, triangular cooperation and initiatives among developing countries, including dialogue between economic integration structures, to expanding market opportunities, fostering regional value chains, promoting industrialization and supporting economic diversification in a manner that is consistent with World Trade Organization rules;
8. Encourages efforts to reduce unnecessary trade costs and address challenges arising from non-tariff measures, while preserving legitimate public policy objectives, including through enhanced transparency, regulatory cooperation and coordination, technical assistance and capacity-building, particularly for the least developed countries and small and medium-sized enterprises;
9. Calls upon UNCTAD, within its mandate and in accordance with the Geneva Consensus (TD/561/Add.2), to continue its research and analysis, consensus-building and technical cooperation activities aimed at supporting developing countries in the advancement of diversification strategies, strengthening of resilient productive capacities, enhancement of value addition, participation in international trade and global supply chains, breaking away from commodity dependence and promotion of sustainable and resilient