Key Issues
In recent years, the UN has been highly successful, through its Summits and Conferences, in persuading nations of the world to agree upon a shared set of development goals and priorities, epitomized by the World Summit Outcome and the Millennium Declaration.
How effectively the goals and priorities embodied in these collective visions can be realized at the national level through high-quality, timely and targeted policies and operational activities is today high on the agenda of all countries of the world.
In the areas of trade and development, the UN's work is coordinated through its focal point on these issues namely, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Purpose
It is clear, that despite the recent favourable trade and economic performance across countries, including developing countries, the possibility of attaining the internationally agreed development goals by 2015 remains distant for many.
The challenge for UNCTAD is how to promote more inclusive development by assisting those that lack the capacity to maximize their potential gains from the international trading system.
This Roundtable will address how UNCTAD's development role could be enhanced, taking into account the new realities in the global economic system.
It will also help to reinforce the collective commitment to UNCTAD's role as a forum for considering emerging issues in the areas of trade and development that are of direct and immediate concern to developing countries.
Expected outcome / Deliverables
The Roundtable will address the following questions:
- How can UNCTAD strength its development role at both the global and the national levels?
- How do the new realities in the global economy affect the development role and impact of UNCTAD?
- How can UNCTAD best contribute to realizing a global development partnership?
- How can UNCTAD best contribute to the overall development effort of the UN system?
Contact:
Office of the Secretary-General
Mr. Stuart Harbinson
E-mail: stuart.harbinson
unctad.org
Or
Mr. Christopher MacFarquhar
E-mail: chris.macfarquharunctad.org