United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

Established in 1964, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development's (UNCTAD) objective is to maximize the trade, investment and development opportunities of developing countries and assist them in their efforts to integrate into the world economy on an equitable basis.

Globalization, including a phenomenal expansion of trade, has helped lift millions out of poverty. But not nearly enough people have benefited. And tremendous challenges remain. UNCTAD supports developing countries to access the benefits of a globalized economy more fairly and effectively. And we help equip them to deal with the potential drawbacks of greater economic integration. To do this, we provide analysis, facilitate consensus-building, and offer technical assistance. This helps them to use trade, investment, finance, and technology as vehicles for inclusive and sustainable development.

Working at the national, regional, and global level, our efforts help countries to:

• Comprehend options to address macro-level development challenges;


• Achieve beneficial integration into the international trading system;


• Diversify economies to make them less dependent on commodities;


• Limit their exposure to financial volatility and debt;


• Attract investment and make it more development friendly;


• Increase access to digital technologies;


• Promote entrepreneurship and innovation;


• Help local firms move up value chains;


• Speed up the flow of goods across borders;


• Protect consumers from abuse;


• Curb regulations that stifle competition;


• Adapt to climate change and use natural resources more effectively;

Together with other UN departments and agencies, UNCTAD measures progress by the Sustainable Development Goals, as set out in Agenda 2030. We also support implementation of Financing for Development, as mandated by the global community in the 2015 Addis Ababa Agenda, together with four other major institutional stakeholders: the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, and the United Nations Development Programme.

While UNCTAD works mainly with governments, to effectively deal with the magnitude and complexity of meeting the Sustainable Development Goals, we believe that partnerships and closer cooperation with the private sector and civil society are essential. Ultimately, we are serving the citizens of the 195 countries that make up our organization. Our goal is prosperity for all.