International trade is critical for economic growth in developing countries, driving job creation, investment and public revenue to finance development, among others. Trade policy can also be leveraged to promote broader development goals such as poverty reduction, social inclusion and economic diversification. However, the predictability of the trade policy paradigm within the international trading system has been gradually eroded by the need to respond to growing imbalances, shocks and shifting policies. Such developments disproportionately affect developing countries.
Discussions at this round table, including to guide the future work of UNCTAD in reimagining an international trade system with development at its core, will address how trade policy can adapt to emerging global realities and promote development beyond export growth. Two subpanels will explore the role of domestic policies and the importance of a supportive international framework.
Programme
Opening remarks: Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General, UNCTAD
Panel 1: Creating a global trade policy framework favourable for development
Questions
- In the light of the current changes and growing uncertainty in the international trading system, how do these developments affect the ability of developing countries to leverage trade for development and what are the most effective ways to ensure that trade effectively supports inclusive and sustainable development?
- How can regional and South–South cooperation be harnessed to support trade for better development? How can policymakers ensure that sectoral initiatives contribute to this process?
Panel 2: Policies to leverage trade for more inclusive and sustainable development outcomes
Questions
- How can the trade agenda promote export growth that drives broader sustainable development outcomes?
- Which policies are required in order for trade to contribute to socially inclusive employment outcomes and environmentally sustainable development? How can UNCTAD support the alignment of the multilateral trade agenda with development priorities?
Moderator: To be determined
Format: Davos-style
Rebeca Grynspan, of Costa Rica, became UNCTAD's eighth Secretary-General on 13 September 2021 and is the first woman to lead the organization.
Prior to her UNCTAD appointment, she was the Ibero-American secretary-general from 2014 to 2021, also the first woman to head the organization. During her mandate, she has coordinated the 22-member Iberoamerican Conference and led four key summits of Heads of State and Government.
In 2010 she was appointed Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Associate Administrator of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and prior to that was UNDP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Prior to joining the United Nations, Ms. Grynspan served as Vice-President of Costa Rica from 1994 to 1998. She was also Minister of Housing, Minister Coordinator of Economic and Social Affairs, and Deputy Minister of Finance. In 2021 she was named Special International Advisor to the newly created Economic and Social Council of Argentina and invited to join as member of the G20 High-Level Independent Panel on Financing the Global Commons for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.
In addition to her experience as a lecturer and advisor to several international organizations, she has been actively involved in key United Nations initiatives, such as the Millennium Project's Task Force on Poverty and Economic Development and the High-level Panel on Financing for Development.
In 2014 and 2015, she was recognized as one of the 50 leading intellectuals of Latin America. And she was recognized as one of the 100 most powerful women in Central America by Forbes magazine.
Ms Grynspan holds a degree in Economics by the University of Costa Rica and a MSc in Economics by the University of Sussex. She has been awarded a Doctorate Honoris Causa by the University of Salamanca, the University of Extremadura and the European University of Madrid in recognition of her outstanding professional achievements.
