News

The pandemic has posed challenges but also created opportunities for workers and businesses producing and selling biodiversity-based goods and services.

By Kweku Attafuah-Wadee, Lalen Lleander and Henrique Pacini, UNCTAD Economists

The world’s poorest nations face many obstacles, including soaring debt, export marginalization, energy poverty and climate vulnerability.

UNCTAD’s rapid assessment of the war’s impact on trade and development shows a rapidly worsening outlook for the world economy, with the situation especially alarming for African and least developed countries.

Empowered by UNCTAD’s training, she endured pandemic-induced disruptions with persistence, hard work and business acumen, emerging stronger from the crisis.

By Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UNCTAD

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

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

Heavy dependence on commodities has increased globally, leaving about two-thirds of developing countries vulnerable to economic shocks such as sharp commodity price fluctuations.

Between the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and mid-2021, commodity prices increased across the region, with varied impacts on countries.