Telling the trade stories of least developed countries

Countries with high environmental credentials like Bhutan should be supported to trade with an automatic recognition and prioritization of their exports as clean and green. This will be a big boost to build productive capacity and help increase climate and trade ambition.

Along with the damage posed to ecosystem and human health, climate change is already affecting what and how countries trade with one another. For instance, changing temperatures and weather patterns have an impact on crop yields, and therefore agricultural trade. Climate change can cause severe and costly disruptions to trade-related infrastructure, as sea level rises threaten seaports and rising temperatures affect and degrade railways. Tourism is another sector that is both crucial for trade and where changing weather conditions are affecting where people travel and the infrastructure that tourism relies on.

While leveraging AFT to mobilize climate finance is an imperative for LDCs, this cannot be achieved without improved government-wide coordination, policy reforms to improve business environments, capacity building to attract and retain investment as well as contribution of resources and expertise to mobilize additional funding. Such an approach, while facilitating collective engagement to unleash the power of partnership, can make a difference to ensure that climate change adaptation and mitigation needs of LDCs are adequately funded.

On 30th and 31st July, almost 300 mm of rain fell on Banjul and the capital region[HS1]  of The Gambia.

Vanuatu has emerged as a trailblazer in the Asia‑Pacific region in leveraging the benefits of trade facilitation through the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)’s Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) program. For over 40 years, ASYCUDA, which is UNCTAD’s largest technical assistance program, has helped customs offices around the world clear goods faster and increase the pace of trade. Vanuatu is one of only seven ASYCUDA countries worldwide, and the only one in the Pacific region, running a single-window system using ASYCUDA.

Building evidence does not only happen through research and analysis; it also comes from sharing experiences. For example, EIF support has been directed to sectors in which women are predominantly engaged, so female-owned businesses can expand and access new regional and global markets. Responses to the M&E exercise indicate a wide recognition that these efforts result in strengthening women’s economic and financial independence.

In 2022, WTO members have the opportunity to move forward on an aid for trade agenda that supports LDCs to tackle pressing challenges at the intersection of trade and sustainability. Given the massive trade-related challenges facing LDCs, the huge gap between needs and available support for a just transition to sustainable trade, and the urgency, scale, and impact of intersecting environmental crises in LDCs, mobilizing additional resources, investments, and partnerships is vital.

Trade continues to play an important driving force not just of economic growth, but also poverty alleviation. Recognizing the role that trade can play in development, the WTO Aid-for-Trade Initiative seeks to mobilize resources to address trade-related constraints identified by developing and least-developed countries. But against the backdrop of multiple crises affecting the world economy, this task is challenging.

Unlike in 2013, PPPs are today widely embraced as a vehicle to promote digital trade. Now, they need to be used in places where they have been scarcer, such as the LDCs.

The Aid for Trade initiative could also become an important platform to encourage collaboration between donor and recipient countries on shared circular economy trade related opportunities and challenges going forward.

The Ministry of Tourism hosts the handicraft and Souvenir Development project, which is supported by the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF); with among other objectives being improving quality, standards and marketing tourism exports such as souvenirs to boost foreign exchange.

Global Value Chains have helped make the world more prosperous. Making them more efficient will make the global economy more resilient to future shocks.

The Enhanced Integrated Framework has remained a key conduit for both channelling and leveraging wider Aid for Trade resources to the LDCs over the past decade but also has the mandate to support LDCs expand their trade funding base.

LDCs have to deal with millions of tonnes of plastic products imported each year, including products with embedded plastics and with associated plastic packaging.

Trade is a critical part of on the ground adaptation efforts that must also be considered, specifically local trade amongst small and medium enterprises which are impacted head-on by climate emergencies. We are seeing communities already vulnerable to shocks affected not only in terms of their resources getting destroyed or depleted but also due to a lack of support systems when this happens.

The EIF recognises that our contribution to creating a thriving e-commerce ecosystem in LDCs is part and parcel of a bigger effort bringing together the expertise and skills of many others. While some are working together with the private sector, including small businesses, others are working with governments. While some invest in building digital infrastructure, others impart knowledge to build digital skills and yet others provide support to prepare and implement e-commerce policies.

Women are 14 times more likely to die from a climate disaster than men. Despite being face-to-face with the problem, women are often not part of the solution.

The World Bank warned that recovery will be slower in low-income countries, especially small, fragile and conflict-affected states. This is due to lower vaccination rates, tighter fiscal and monetary policies, and more persistent scarring from the pandemic.

Ratnakar Adhikari (EIF) and Taffere Tesfachew (UNTBLDC) discuss how LDCs can benefit from technology on their path towards structural transformation

A better access to trade finance in least developed countries (LDCs) could allow businesses to have the financial tools to participate in national, regional or global trade.

The AfCFTA's success lies in last-mile implementation. Connectivity and mobility are key.

Guided by its Gross National Happiness, Bhutan has considerably improved its economic, environmental, social and governance situation in the past four decades.

How can LDCs be supported to improve their trade performance and sustainably raise their share of trade in the global economy?

Originally published by OECD Development Matters blog on 30th April 2021

Manufacturing has traditionally driven economic growth in developing countries. A new book by the World Bank highlights the potential of the service sector in driving development. What are the implications of this shift for least developed countries? 

Alexander Kasterine explores how climate change concerns are changing market requirements for developing country food exporters

With climate change on everyone’s mind ahead of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), what are the key issues on the table for the world’s least developed countries (LDCs)?

  Originally published by the World Economic Forum on 19 August 2021

More collaboration, studies needed to boost developing country agri-food exports Pesticides are a hot topic when it comes to the intersection of agriculture, trade and food security.

The multilateral trading system and the body of trade rules enshrined in the World Trade Organization (WTO) rulebook have been the cornerstone for trade-led economic development in recent decades.

Originally published on Devex on 3 August 2021

New study finds that conservation and tourism can go hand in hand, offering recommendations how to make it so

For SIDS and LDCs, tapping into the remote working revolution requires internet infrastructure

The COVID-19 pandemic transformed the trade ecosystem for women in the developing world  

On avoiding risks and challenges for countries striving to reduce poverty and tackle climate change

Getting organic certification for shea can be a journey

Adoption of apps is facilitating farmers and businesses

COVID-19 is taking a toll on developing countries and their debt

Recovery taking a different shape than expected 

David Luke, Judith Ameso, Mahlet Girma Bekele

In January 2020, the spread of an infectious disease appeared at the very bottom of the World Economic Forum’s top ten high-impact risks. A year later, it had risen to number one.

Adopting such standards in LDC production offers promise, but work remains

Originally published by Thomson Reute

by Brendan Vickers, Salamat Ali, Dr. Neil Balchin, Hilary Enos-Edu

Multinationals and governments need to recognize the trade world’s interconnectedness, and its impact

Originally published on World Economic Forum on 19th January 2021 as part of the 

Photo: An apparel worker at a garment factory that reopened amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Originally published by the International Trade Centre (ITC) International Trade Forum Magazine on 9 December 2020

Country embarking on a new tourism strategy as part of its building of trade sector When one thinks about tourism hotspots, Burundi is not the first that comes to mind. But, that doesn’t mean it couldn’t get there.

Academy training youth for a global trade

Public-private partnership to boost incomes in shea.

For smallholder farmers and processors in LDCs, cotton by-products could provide additional income as they adjust to COVID-19 and other exogenous factors impacting world lint prices

Country working toward regional and global trade goals in a post-conflict scenario. Becoming a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) isn’t automatic – it’s a process that involves commitments and consensus, questions and responses, meetings and negotiations.

Rice plays a strategic role in food security in West Africa, but the region increasingly relies on imports, and local value chains face constraints in terms of technology, finance and coordination. 

As the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic kick in, hopes for better progress, at least in the short term, appear to be fading.

In Bangladesh, COVID-19 is impacting the female labour force more

Breaking down the data on productive capabilities, debt and more in the world’s poorest countries

The government of Uganda put containment measures in place to tackle COVID-19. These included quarantines; bans on public gatherings and weekly markets; closures of schools, borders and nonessential retail outlets; and the suspension of international flights.

LDCs face a variety of challenges. Apart from a few rare and often unstable and reversible economic successes, LDCs, and especially those in Africa, which represent over 80% of the group's members, have not properly benefitted from the expansion of the global economy and international trade seen in recent decades. Some have even become relatively deindustrialized, despite increased access to imported intermediate products, particularly those destined for the manufacturing sector. LDCs continue to integrate into global value chains mainly by exporting unprocessed products and intermediate products that are raw material‑intensive. However, this route is too long and too complex, and, to make matters worse, is controlled from end to end by multinational firms that are reluctant to consider a change of course.

The combined and cumulative effect of pre-existing technological, policy and sustainability trends and the current COVID crisis is set to strike a perfect storm in the system of international production and GVCs.

Cabo Verde is often described as “off the beaten path”, whatever that means. In reality, the tiny country of 10 islands has been on many paths since the 15th century, when Portuguese sailors first stopped in the uninhabited archipelago.

Myanmar was already moving to get its businesses online. With COVID-19, they were able to speed things up.

Companies have a key role to play in building societal resilience to crises, including the current pandemic and climate impacts, across their value chains. 

With a sharp decline in tourism in 2020, what does the future look like?

The Enhanced Integrated Framework explores the work of its National Implementation Units in fragile and conflict-affected countries and looks at the role the units play in integrating trade into the rebuilding of these countries.

On transforming healthcare where it’s needed most

Originally published by the World Bank on 1st October 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic is a testament to the global value chain (GVC) world we live in; what happens in one country has profound impacts, intended and unintended, across countries.

Medicine retail and logistics in Africa are a highly fragmented business.

Originally published by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization on 17 September 2020

How can the country build back better?

Multiple sourcing and proximity sourcing are shaping into long-term trends as global firms hardwire resilience and agility into their supply chains.

With digital conference covering the major topics in global trade, what matters for the world’s poorest countries?

Breaking ground with new ideas and new partnerships in two African countries

In trade for development, more female trainers could make a big difference

Artisan handbag maker taking her enterprise forward, and receiving new financing

COVID-19 is highlighting the interconnectedness of agri-food trade; and work needs to be done to mobilise action to build safe food systems

New paper looks at the supply chain dimension of African trade during and post-COVID

From a focus on fisheries to WTO membership, analysis of the country’s economic situation offers ways to move forward

Women workers in global value chains have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

Originally published by THOMSON REUTERS FOUNDATION NEWS on 18 August 2020

Following digitisation of commercial documents, the digitalisation of trade implies functional use of data to improve the automation potential of cross-border processes.

Urgent digital transformation is needed to create safe and secure cross border ecommerce customs clearance in the world’s poorest countries

For a new business owner, one international trade fair got things rolling

Originally published in World Economic Forum Agenda on 6 July 2020

Food products comprise around 17% of LDC merchandise imports – more than double the world average of 8%.

Originally published in OECD-Development Matters on 6 July 2020

The macroeconomic context for developing country trade in the time of COVID-19

Ways for LDCs to adapt amid global turmoil

Women’s specific needs and potential as leaders and agents of change must be considered for COVID-19 mitigation and recovery measures.

OECD’s Seed Schemes are working to protect food systems globally, with important benefits for least developed countries

Although LDCs are home to 13.3% of the world’s population, their share of COVID-19-related medical imports is just 1%.

Six new objectives for regional policy cooperation

Originally published by UNIDO in May 2020

Originally published by Devex on 10 March 2020

The collapse in trade provoked by the coronavirus pandemic has exposed the fragility of carefully constructed supply chains in the global fashion industry, and the asymmetries with which they are governed.

Originally published in OECD-Development Matters on 28 April 2020

How to ensure the women who collect shea benefit from being part of the global marketplace

The world is changing, and so should our support to the world’s poorest countries

Originally published by UNCTAD on 7 May 2020

Originally published in World Economic Forum Agenda on 24 April 2020

To get LDC graduation back on track, and to help other LDCs, reform of the international system of support must be fundamental and far-reaching.

How will graduation impact countries in South Asia and the trade support they benefit from? How can they prepare?

Examining the potential impact of tourism disruption in LDCs; developing policy recommendations to limit the damage, initiate recovery and build resilience

Originally published in World Economic Forum Agenda on 24 April 2020

COVID-19 is highlighting the need for paperless trade in developing countries; a recent assessment offers recommendations for how to start

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s travel impacts, West Africa’s objectives remain valid

Originally published by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) on 1 April 2020

Trade ministers are playing an essential role in the pandemic response

Information access via tech could increase yields and incomes for cotton farmers in Africa

Originally published in World Economic Forum Agenda on 23 March 2020

Following research into the mukula value chain, recommendations to preserve livelihoods and landscapes

Poverty, inequality and exclusion are key factors contributing to the devastating effects of COVID-19 on all African countries.

Originally published by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) on 27 March 2020

Originally published by Peterson Institute for International Economics on 27 March 2020

The possibility of reconfiguring manufacturing processes through new digital technologies and data provides opportunities to reboot industrial development in least developed countries.

The right trade policies would help the world combat current pandemic

SDG 2 commits governments to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture, with five specific targets setting the level and ambition of this goal.

Originally published in World Economic Forum Agenda on 18 February 2020

Transforming the economies of least developed countries (LDCs) requires a nationally supported vision on how to tackle the binding constraints to higher value-added production.

Originally published in OECD-Development Matters on 31 January 2020

Originally published in World Economic Forum Agenda on 10 February 2020

Originally published in OECD-Development Matters on 5 February 2020

Agriculture 4.0, fuelled by innovation and technology, is driving more productive, efficient and sustainable food systems.

The latest version of the Global Trade Alert, which monitors state interventions that affect world commerce, explores whether developing country access to large overseas markets has changed during the current era of populism.

Efforts towards the automation of the CITES permitting system is an example of how trade facilitation could be applied in the wildlife sector.

For many, graduation from least developed country status is not the end of the story.

In order to be effective, existing and future home country outward FDI measures need to be customised to the needs and realities of LDCs.

Countries that have already implemented trade-cost reducing reforms – for example trade facilitation, infrastructure, and data flows – will be better positioned to take advantage of any opportunities that arise from the trade war.

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) Senior Research Fellow discusses agriculture-based economies and how the current US-China trade situation is affecting the world’s poor

A Global Multilateral Benefit-Sharing Mechanism is the appropriate vehicle by which biodiverse rich countries can be compensated for genetic resources utilised in intellectual property.

There is urgent need to better understand trade and climate change linkages in the context of least developed countries (LDCs).

Graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category, a milestone in a country’s development, is not free of controversies.

Least developed countries (LDCs) confront a challenging global trade landscape, from slower long-term growth rates and rising protectionism to a weakening nexus between trade and GDP growth.

Many least developed countries are vulnerable to recurrent natural disasters, which exacerbate existing challenges, disrupt long-term investments and divert resources away from development to reconstruction.

Enabling growth via ecommerce, trade facilitation and geographical indications

The international system governing the environment and economy is under pressure, but it is in trade where least developed countries (LDCs) may lose most from cracks in the global order.

With the spotlight on the Sino-US tariff war, a worrying trade policy dynamic implicating many countries has been overlooked.

Originally published by World Economic Forum Agenda on 13 August 2019

Originally published by Devex on 5 July 2019

Originally published by World Economic Forum Agenda on 4 July 2019

Originally published by World Economic Forum Agenda on 24 June 2019

To transform LDCs, turning tourism into new kinds of growth

Originally published by Devex on 5 July 2018

The distinctive character of trade policy 3.0 is that, in addition to “writing down the rules” of trade in natural language (trade policy 1.0) and use of “single window systems” that replicate paper-based delivery in the digital realm (trade policy 2.0), countries are able to publish computational rules to the Internet in a standard way

Originally published in Bridges Africa

Originally published in International Trade Forum

Originally published in Bridges Africa

Originally published by Thomson Reuters Foundation News

Originally published on 10 July 2017 in the World Economic Forum Agenda

Originally published on 7 July 2017 in the World Economic Forum Agenda

Originally published on 27 May 2016 in the World Economic Forum Agenda