Session documents

With the new Doha Mandate and building on the Accra Accord, the Trade Logistics Branch in UNCTAD’s Division on Technology and Logistics will be addressing some of the most compelling issues that developing countries are facing in improving their participation in international trade. These issues may affect in various ways the different categories of developing countries. Challenges also vary in their nature and possible responses depending on the geographical situation and circumstances as well as on the development stage of a given country. Working actively on the three pillars of UNCTAD over the past 12 years, the Trade Logistics Branch has developed both a long-standing experience as well as analytical and technical assistance capacities to deal with some of these key questions.

The session will include the presentation and discussion of the following topics:

• Current trends in trade logistics and implications for participation in global value chains;
• Emerging and persisting challenges for developing countries: climate-change impacts, trade and transport security, market-access costs, institutional efficiency, etc.;
• The role of technology and innovation in improving trade and transport operations;
• Customs automation and administrative culture reform;
• Options and ways for trade-facilitation measures: multilateral and regional rules versus national implementation;
• Transport infrastructure development: long-term sustainability and ownership.

The above issues will be discussed also from the angle of a land-locked developing country, a small island developing State, and economies in transition or a least developed country.

• Programme
•  Presenters

Delivered by: Division on Technology and Logistics

Presentations:

•  International transport: persisting and emerging issues for developing countries (Session 1)
•  Trade facilitation: basic concepts, evolving content and most recent developments: challenges and opportunities for developing countries (Session 2)