Telling the trade stories of least developed countries

The multimillion-dollar shea industry is booming in French-speaking Africa. With the right support, there is a lot of room for the sector to grow and for rural women to benefit.

French-speaking Africa is home to high-value agricultural products. EIF is working with producers and processors to make sure they can meet national and global market demands.

French-speaking Africa has a lot of potential for trade. Find out what sectors have the most promise.

Biruktawit Begashaw started her own export company, Qine Trading, five years ago in Addis Ababa. Her business got a boost after attending Gulfood in Dubai, sponsored through Ethiopia’s Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Enhanced Integrated Framework.

Tourism is the backbone of many developing world economies, and the sector is being drastically affected by COVID-19. How can countries weather and recover this crisis? What lessons can we take from the past?

Only 5 countries have graduated from LDC status since the category was established in 1971. 12 are set to potentially graduate in the coming years, largely based on economic gains. But with COVID-19 slowing economies and trade, is LDC graduation in peril?

Tewodros Yilma of Alpha Trading in Ethiopia discusses his business processing and exporting agricultural products, the role of trade fairs and his plans for the future.

48% of impoverished people today live in fragile and conflict-affected states, and the number is increasing. COVID-19 has the potential to make the situation even worse. What can countries and global institutions do to stem this tide and improve stability?

Lao PDR's Deputy Director General Phouvieng Phongsa, Department of Planning and Cooperation, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, discusses trade and development in his tiny, landlocked country.

See how Vanuatu is recovering from the effects of Cyclone Pam, and how one handicrafts seller is striving for "Vanuatu made" to become the norm.

 Director of Trade at the Uganda Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives discusses the country's recent trade successes.

Uganda's Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives discusses Uganda's trade policies, what's been accomplished, and what's left to be done.

In Masaka District in Uganda, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Robert Mutungi discusses what small businesses in his district need to succeed, and what trade means in his agriculture-focused area of the country.

Noah's Ark owner Samuel Musoke discusses his small business and what he needs to succeed from Masaka District in Uganda.

Examining Aid for Trade and LDCs, aiming for evidence-based action

WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo's welcome message to participants at the Global Forum on Inclusive Trade for Least Developed Countries (LDCs)

Malawi's farmers have been cultivating new crops with the National Smallholder Farmers' Association of Malawi, supported by the Government of Malawi and EIF

The Gambia has been working across its supply chain to enhance trade in the country

EIF is the only multilateral partnership working to support trade for development in the world's poorest countries. Check out how we are doing this, on the ground, with our partners, together with governments, always for development, always for the Least Developed Countries.

The ylang-ylang, vanilla and cloves that grow in Comoros are being used to spur economic growth, with young entrepreneurs leading the way

The closing ceremony echoed the Call to Action launched at the Forum, taking inclusive trade for LDCs to the next level

Inclusive and sustainable agribusiness value chains can provide one of the highest returns on investment in terms of growth, poverty reduction, pro-poor employment, and women's economic empowerment in LDCs.

Increasing trade between African countries offers great potential for building sustainable economic development and integration, including creating higher-wage jobs and unlocking greater business opportunities

Representatives from LDCs had the unique opportunity to pitch new investment opportunities that support inclusive trade to the experts, and received immediate feedback

This session gathered ministers from LDCs and global leaders to discuss implementation of trade strategies and national-level plans in light of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

In 2017, the global trading system achieved a major milestone when the first multilateral deal entered into force in the 21-year history of the World Trade Organization – the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA)

This plenary session gathered ministerial-level officials from LDCs and high-level speakers to discuss the integration of LDCs into regional and global trading systems amid economic and political risk and uncertainty

In the last two decades, there has been a boom in world trade driven by large reductions in trade barriers and unprecedented interlinkages among countries, and South-South trade has grown. Yet the world's poorest nations, designated Least Developed Countries (LDCs), engage in less than 1% of global trade while home to 13% of the world’s population

An interview with Richard Kamajugo, Senior Director for Trade Environment at TradeMark East Africa (TMEA), during the EIF Global Forum 2018

New tech uses present challenges – and a host of opportunities – for the world’s poorest countries.

A new study for Tanzania — the Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS) update — highlights opportunities for developing and improving trade opportunities for Tanzanian b

“Coconuts are both culturally and economically important to Samoans,” says Alberta Vitale, Associate Director of Samoa’s Women in Business Development Incorporated (WIBDI).

Burkina Faso’s cashew industry is in the midst of a drastic makeover.

Rosalie is not just any market mama. She is the founder of Bulvanua Arts & Handicrafts – a cooperative of 30 traders who are promoting Made in Vanuatu products in place of imports.

Recognising that traditional honey harvesting damages the forest, Zambia’s rural communities are using modern beekeeping practices that value trees and produce better quality honey.

Rosalie’s day starts at 4 a.m., kneading coconut cream rolls with her eldest daughter to sell at the local community shop down the road from her house.

Ms. Mere Falemaka, Permanent Representative of the Pacific Islands Forum to the WTO in Geneva, shared with us some precious insights about the specificities of the region.

Stakeholders from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) discuss the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) impact on trade and development in their respective countries.

Executive Director of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) Ratnakar Adhikari discusses the impact EIF has on the lives and livelihoods of women in Least Developed Countries (LDCs).