The current Israeli military operation in Gaza will take tens of billions of dollars and many decades to reverse, according to a new released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (). According to the report, the Israeli offensive greatly accelerated the contraction of Gaza's economy, resulting in a 24% contraction of GDP and a 26.1% drop in GDP per capita for the entire year. In addition, has displaced 85% of Gaza's population, halting economic activities and further worsening poverty and unemployment. The recovery of Gaza's economy from the current military operation will demand a financial commitment several times more than the $3.9 billion that resulted from the 2014 military operation in Gaza and will require a concerted international effort to restore pre-conflict socioeconomic conditions.
UNCTAD
The 2023 Global Investment Trends Monitor by UNCTAD reported a 3% growth in global foreign direct investment (FDI), primarily driven by European "conduit" economies; however, excluding these economies revealed an 18% decline in global FDI flows, indicating mixed results for sustainable development investment.
emphasizes the need to foster domestic value-addition to critical minerals in producing developing countries to increase supply chains resilience, and sustainability as evidenced in Democratic Republic of Congo.
New data released by highlights the limitations of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as an all-encompassing metric for progress, underscoring that higher economic output doesn’t equate to more inclusive and sustainable growth.
UNCTAD presents to explore how to turn digital opportunities into shared development gains and close existing divides for a sustainable future. is open to all.
A by highlights the urgency of crisis-resilient development finance for Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
Against a backdrop of heightened political tensions, the Palestine economy continues to operate below potential, rendering the population in dire need of humanitarian assistance, according to 's latest report.
Transforming agrifood systems will contribute not only to eradicating poverty, ending hunger and improving nutrition, but also ensure that they are more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable.
Agriculture, energy and mining can leave an economy vulnerable and people poor, especially in developing countries.
The global economy is at a crossroads, where divergent growth paths, widening inequalities, growing market concentration, and mounting debt burdens cast shadows on its future.
UNCTAD launches highlighting the pressing need for cleaner fuels and digital solutions in the shipping industry.
Over the last six months, on nearly 50 SDG indicators across 90 countries. underscores the pressing need for swift and targeted action.
holds the (16-20 October) to mobilize financing for climate action, clean energy, health care, food security and other development needs. According to UNCTAD's , overlapping crises such as the war in Ukraine, high food and energy prices, and debt pressures led to a 12% decline in global foreign direct investment in 2022. More than 7,000 stakeholders from 160 countries for the Forum (). Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE's minister of state for foreign trade, said UNCTAD can play a major role in addressing and ultimately mitigating these interlocking issues.
publishes to collect data to help policymakers tackle gender inequalities in trade.
This episode of the looks at the illegal wildlife trade with David Vivas, a United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (legal officer working on trade and environmental issues.
Every year, huge numbers of animals and plants are bought and sold illicitly as food, medicine, clothing, furniture and even musical instruments.
Wildlife is big business. The illegal trade is estimated to be worth at least $7 billion but it could be much larger.
Trafficking is driving some species – especially rhinos, elephants, tigers, lions and pangolins – towards extinction. Many others are at risk.
Image credit: UNCTAD