UNCTAD News COVID-19 is a matter of life and debt, global deal needed (24 April 2020)

The coronavirus pandemic hits developing countries at a time when they have already been struggling with unsustainable debt burdens for many years, as well as with rising health needs.  In 2020 and 2021 alone, developing countries’ repayments on their public external debt alone will soar to between US$2.6 trillion and $3.4 trillion. UNCTAD calls for $1 trillion in debt relief. More

Online eWeek to explore post-coronavirus digital economy solutions

Digital solutions and policies to help the world recover from the coronavirus crisis will be in sharp focus during UNCTAD’s eWeek event from 27 April to 1 May.

The online event is a modified, smart edition of the popular annual UNCTAD eCommerce Week at which senior government officials, chief executive officers, and other stakeholders forge solutions to challenges linked to the digital economy. More
 

UK provides £1.4 million more for trade facilitation initiatives

The United Kingdom government, through its Department for International Development, has injected an additional £1.4 million ($1.7 million) to UNCTAD’s work on trade facilitation, extending its support to March 2022.
The new funds come at a time when it is increasingly crucial to facilitate trade to keep global supply chains thriving and international commerce moving, improving trading procedures around the world could not be more urgent and timelier. More

The COVID-19 pandemic and the measures put in place to contain its diffusion are taking a heavy toll on the tourism sector.

Small island nations would currently need $5.5 billion to offset the havoc COVID19 has wreaked on their economies. What needs to be done? UNCTAD’s trade and commodities director, Pamela Coke-Hamilton, explains. More
 
UNCTAD to lead United Nations Group on the Information Society

UNCTAD this month took the helm of the United Nations’ inter-agency mechanism for advancing information and communications technologies (ICT) policy coherence and programme coordination, the United Nations Group on the Information Society (UNGIS) with UNCTAD Secretary-General Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi is the new chair of the group. More