The second edition of the UNCTAD Global Supply Chain Forum (GSCF) will take place from 29 November to 1 December 2026 in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in partnership with the Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI).
The Forum will bring together member States and representatives of the private sector, international and regional organizations, non-governmental organizations, academics and experts worldwide to exchange experiences, identify policy options and consider practical measures to enhance the resilience, sustainability and inclusiveness of transport and logistics systems.
Held every two years by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Forum serves as a global platform for dialogue among public and private stakeholders on supply chain and trade logistics issues. In light of the continuous challenges that impact the resilience and sustainability of supply chains, maintaining and further developing this platform has been recognized by UNCTAD Member States as part of UNCTAD’s mandate, the Geneva Consensus, adopted at the 16th ministerial Conference in 2025 (UNCTAD16).
This second edition of the Forum will build on deliberations at the first UNCTAD GSCF, held in Bridgetown, Barbados in 2024, as well as on the outcome of an UNCTAD16 ministerial roundtable dedicated to supply chain issues, and allow for further consideration of the impacts of supply chain disruptions on trade and development, as well as potential response measures.
The Forum will be held in conjunction with the Global Logistics Forum organized by the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Confronting pressing supply chain challenges: responses and opportunities
The 2026 UNCTAD GSCF will address the most pressing challenges facing international and regional supply chains and sustainable development. It will:
- Promote coordinated efforts to prevent, mitigate, respond and adapt to supply chain disruptions, including through targeted policy, regulatory and operational measures, technical assistance, sustainable and resilient infrastructure investment, strengthened public and private collaboration; as well as enhanced crisis-response mechanisms to ensure the continued flow of essential goods, including in times of emergency.
- Identify opportunities arising from structural transformation, digitalization, innovation, and sustainability transitions to strengthen supply chain resilience, build productive capacities, support skills development, enhance collaboration and promote more inclusive participation in global and regional trade.
- Shore up support for economies disproportionally affected by supply chain disruptions, particularly least developed countries and small island developing states, as well as landlocked developing countries, many of which face freight costs significantly above the global average, in some cases up to three times higher.
