News

By Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UNCTAD

But the world’s largest free trade area needs measures to boost productivity and expand opportunities.

By David Vivas-Eugui, Legal Officer, and Henrique Pacini, Economist, UNCTAD

UNCTAD says the African Continental Free Trade Area could boost intra-African trade by up to 33% and cut the continent’s trade deficit by 51%.

The study assesses the export-associated pollution generated by the manufacturing sector, a key driver of economic growth.

As centers of economic activity, special economic zones are a crucial development tool for nations. A new global alliance could help amplify SEZ voices alongside a push to modernize the zones.

The outlook for infrastructure investment is strong due to COVID-19 stimulus packages, but investment in industry remains weak. And while high-income countries more than doubled quarterly FDI inflows, low-income economies suffered a further 9% decline.

Investment promotion agencies form Costa Rica, Mauritius, the Netherlands the Republic of Korea and Seychelles are honoured during the 7th World Investment Forum.

Barbados, Belize and Costa Rica are looking beyond the pandemic and climate shocks by developing and implementing national trade strategies strongly linked to resilience, conservation and the sustainable use of their marine resources.

The Global Commodities Forum 2021 tackles the many facets of commodity dependence and the vulnerabilities of countries whose economies rely on primary goods exports.