About 64% of developing economies rely on exporting primary goods, and most risk continuing down a path of commodity dependence unless they embrace technology-enabled structural transformation.
The 2021 update of the UNCTAD SDG Pulse illustrates in numbers countries’ progress and challenges in achieving the sustainable development goals by 2030.
Economic losses are mounting in developing countries due to the absence of widespread COVID-19 vaccinations.
Five key messages from UNCTAD Special Adviser for the Blue Economy Dona Bertarelli on why the ocean needs protection more than ever, so it can continue to offer food and livelihoods to 3 billion people.
The region suffered the sharpest decline in foreign investment flows to developing countries in 2020.
Developing Asia is the only region that recorded growth in foreign investment in 2020, accounting for more than half of global inward and outward flows.
Despite recovery efforts, a return to pre-pandemic levels of inward foreign direct investment is unlikely in the coming years.
Foreign direct investment remains stable in least developed countries, but contracts severely in landlocked developing nations and small island developing states.
Prospects for 2021 are positive, with expected growth of up to 20%, mainly due to strong cross-border mergers and acquisitions.
The continent's commodity-dependent countries have been affected more severely than non-resource-based economies.
