1. United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development
BY : ASHISH AROTE
MANISH KUMAR
MEHUL SHAH
VIVEK VYAS
ANSHU MITTAL

2. UNCTAD
A knowledge-based institution
to promote development
I. Introduction to UNCTAD
Historical and political context
 UNCTAD’s structure
Inter-governmental process,
cooperation and dialogue
 UNCTAD today
Its current work and its
UNCTAD divisions 2

3. Basic goals
 Optimize the trade, investment and
development opportunities of developing
countries
 Assist developing countries in their
efforts to integrate into the world economy
on an equitable basis

4. Basic characteristics
• 193 member States
• Secretary-General: Rubens Ricupero (Brazil),
since September 1995
• Staff: 400 employees
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Budget: ca. US$ 50 million from the UN budget,
US$ 25 million from extra-budgetary sources

5. Historical and political context:
1964 1970s 1980s 1990s
Creation of UNCTAD G-77 e NIEO Washington Consensus Globalization
New International Washington Globalization
Creation of
Economic Order Consensus
UNCTAD - Creation of the
- Strengthening of -Debt crisis WTO
- Dr. Prebisch
the G-77 -IMF, World Bank -Increase in FDI
- Trade and structural adjust.
programs - Financial crises
development
(Mexico, Asia,
- New topics - Trade and Russia, Brazil)
financial
liberalization

6. Brief History of UNCTAD
 First phase: 1964 to late 1970s
Rise and climax of UNCTAD’s negotiating role
 Second phase: 1980s
Strengthening the analytical capacity with greater
focus on macroeconomic and financial issues
(debt-crisis)
 Third phase: 1990s onwards
The positive agenda and identification of the
shortcomings of the mainstream development
strategy
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7. Political dimension of the
Conferences
 Discussion about:
 Development-oriented strategies
 Advantages and shortcomings of
economic strategies
 Intergovernmental and international
policies and priorities
 Mandates and work of
the UN and UNCTAD
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8. Intergovernmental process
Consensus-building
ECOSOC
Trade and Development Board
Commission on Commission on Commission on Commission on
Trade in Investment, Enterprise, Science and
Goods, Services Technology and Business Technology for
and Commodities Related Financial Facilitation and Development
Issues Development
Expert Meetings
 Annual session of the commissions: political issues
 Expert meetings: technical issues

9. Meetings
 The inter-governmental work is done at 5 levels of meetings: [1]
 The UNCTAD Conference – held every 4 years;
 UNCTAD XIII will be held in Doha, Qatar in 2012
 UNCTAD XII was held in Accra, Ghana in 21–25 April
2008
 UNCTAD XI was held in São Paulo, Brazil in 13–18 June
2004
 UNCTAD X was held in Bangkok, Thailand in 12–19
February 2000
 UNCTAD IX was held in Midrand, South Africa in 27 April –
11 May 1996
 UNCTAD VIII was held in Cartagena, Colombia in 8–25
February 1992
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10. Structure of the Secretariat
Secretary-General
Office of the S-G
Deputy
S-G
Division
of Management
Division Division Division
Division Special Programme
On International on Investment, On Services
on Globalisation For Least Developed,
Trade in Goods Technology and Infrastructure for
and Development Landlocked and Island
and Services, Enterprise Development and
Strategies Developing Countries
and Commodities Development Trade Efficiency

11. How does UNCTAD work?
Intergovernmental level
Commission Monitoring of inter- Consensus
meetings Expert meetings governmental
activities Building
A TWO-TRACK
PROCESS
Research and Human resources Institutional Policy
analytical studies capacity-building Capacity-
building Analysis
UNCTAD Secretariat

12. Cooperation and dialogue
Governments 192 countries
International WTO, World Bank,
organisations IMF, etc.
Intergovernmental
Organisations (IGOs) and
UNCTAD Civil Society Non-Governmental
Organisations (NGOs)
Universities and
Academia research institutes
Small and Medium sized
Enterprises (SMEs) and
Private Sector Transnational
Corporations (TNCs)

13. MAIN THEMES
 Poverty/Development
 Social dimension of globalization
 Equitable world trade (market access, agriculture)
 Financial system and world economy
 Social and corporate responsibility
 LDCs’ external debt
 Trade and environment

14. Analytical process
 Annual reports
 Specific studies
 Technical and statistical material
 Regional and national workshops
 Analysis of national policies and
best practices
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15. Main publications
 Trade and Development Report
(annual)
 World Investment Report (annual)
 The Least Developed Countries
Report (biennial)
 E-commerce and Development
Report (annual)
 Research Papers Series
 www.unctad.org
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16. Development strategies and global
UNCTAD’s work
Investment, enterprise
small island developing countries.
Least developed, landlocked and
development, and technology
interdependence
DEVELOPMENT
Trade (goods, services and commodities),
services infrastructure and
trade facilitation

17. Globalization and
Development Strategies
 Macro-economic analysis and
policy proposals
 Studies and projections about the world
economy and the financial system
 Preparation of the Trade and Development
Report (TDR)
 Analysis of external debt problems
 Development programs for Africa
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18. International Trade
in Goods, Services and Commodities
 Integrate developing countries in the
multilateral trade system and help them
benefit from it
 Understanding of current issues in
multilateral trade negotiations
 New proposals – positive agenda
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19. Services Infrastructure for
Development and Trade Efficiency
 Trade facilitation
 Multimodal transportation (ACIS)
 E-commerce
 TrainForTrade
 Global Trade Point Network
 Customs modernisation
(ASYCUDA)
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20. Special Programme on
Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
 Currently: 50 LDCs
 34 in Africa, 9 in Asia, 6 in the Pacific Region,
1 in Latin America (Haiti)
 Objective: Reduce poverty & increase development
 Preparation of the LDC Annual Report
 Analysis of the links between poverty-reduction
and development strategies
 Assistance to LDCs for accession to the WTO
and its negotiations
 Capacity-building in trade, investment and
related services
 Organization of the Conference on LDCs
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21. Who participates
 Government delegates from 193 countries
 International institutions
 Parliamentarians
 Entrepreneurs
 Academics
 NGOs and IGOs
 Media
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22. For more information:
www.unctad.org
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23. SPANK YOU !!!
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