An exhibition on UNCTAD XII was held outside the main conference rooms at UN headquarters. In addition to a large number of Conference-related materials made available by UNCTAD, the Embassy of Ghana in Washington brought information, graphic material and handcrafts for display. The exhibition attracted substantial interest throughout the week from both United Nations staff and delegates.

In parallel to the exhibition, a special presentation was held on Wednesday 26 March 2008, in Conference Room 6 at United Nations Headquarters, attracting over 60 delegates. The Minister of Communications of Ghana, Dr. Benjamin Aggrey Ntim, addressed the audience, underlining the complexity on the negotiations of the Conference document, while appealing to member States "to demonstrate sufficient goodwill, flexibility and political will required for a successful outcome". He also referred to the hard work of Ghana as host country and thanked the UNCTAD secretariat and other stakeholders for their support.

Mr. Kobsak Chutikul, of the UNCTAD secretariat, told the audience about the preparations for UNCTAD XII, displaying snapshots of the conference centre, the surrounding area and the airport. Mr. Cheick Sidi Diarra, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, UN-OHRLLS expressed his support and gratitude to Ghana and UNCTAD for organizing the conference. In closing, Mr. Obeng Gyan Busia, Consul General of Ghana in New York, informed those present of the visa arrangements for those attending the Conference.