Available finance for developing countries falls $4 trillion short of what is required annually. With high debt servicing costs and sluggish export earnings, the ability of developing countries to build socioeconomic resilience is compromised.
Moreover, underdeveloped productive capacities and an increasing digital divide limit the ability of developing countries to expand participation in global markets and export more value added goods and services. This in turn negatively impacts their external and public sector financial sustainability.
Fostering requisite productive capacities will enable developing countries to address structural and persistent socioeconomic vulnerabilities and achieve inclusive growth and development.
UNCTAD has developed the productive capacities index and a sustainable development financial assessment framework, including a new policy dashboard, to support policy decisions of developing countries around productive capacities and financial sustainability.
This parallel event will identify practical measures to assist more vulnerable economies to accelerate the development of productive capacities to boost export earnings and increase government revenue streams.
This includes seeking new mechanisms, such as debt swaps, for building productive capacities.
Programme
Opening remarks: UNCTAD Secretary-General/Deputy Secretary-General
High-level panel and interactive discussion
Questions:
- How can a coordinated sequencing of productive capacity- enhancing projects expand the capacity of countries to access affordable long-term finance?
- What policy options do developing economies have to boost their productive capacities development?
- How do investments in productive capacities affect external and public sector financial sustainability, and how can they be managed?
- What support can UNCTAD provide to assist countries in expanding their productive capacities and ensuring financial sustainability, such as through mechanisms for debt swaps for productive capacities?
Moderator: To be confirmed
