Shaping the future
16th conference on trade and development
The 16th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD16) will take place from 20 to 23 October 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, with the theme “Shaping the future: Driving economic transformation for equitable, inclusive and sustainable development”.
Hosted by Switzerland and UNCTAD, the conference will convene Heads of State and Government, Ministers of Trade and Economy, Nobel Laureates, leaders of international organizations, representatives of civil society and renowned experts to engage in high-level dialogue on global trends and policy perspectives on trade, investment, development and the digital economy.
'A milestone for development'
The 16th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD16) will be held from 20 to 23 October 2025, hosted by the Government of Switzerland, under the theme “Shaping the future: Driving economic transformation for equitable, inclusive and sustainable development”.
The ministerial conference, a quadrennial United Nations event, is the highest decision-making body of UNCTAD at which member States come together to discuss current global trade, finance, investment and technological trends and challenges.
The conference sets the organization’s work priorities for the next four years and formulates global policy recommendations.
Heads of State and Government, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Ministers of Finance, Ministers of Trade and Economy from the 195 member States of UNCTAD, heads of international organizations, Nobel prize-winning economists, leading civil society organizations, development banks and financial and global trade organizations are expected to attend the conference.
