Changes

| founders        =  

| founders        =  

| ownership      =  

| ownership      =  

| headquarters    = DC2-1120, United Nations<br>

| headquarters    = DC2-1120, United Nations<br>New York, NY 10017  

New York, NY 10017  

| country        =  

| country        =  

| businesses      =  

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| linkedin        =  

| linkedin        =  

| twitter        = UNCTAD

| twitter        = UNCTAD

| keypeople      = [[Supachai Panitchpakdi]], Secretary-General

| keypeople      = [[Supachai Panitchpakdi]], Secretary-General<br/>[[Petko Draganov]], Deputy Secretary-General

[[Petko Draganov]], Deputy Secretary-General

}}

}}

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The '''United Nations Conference on Trade and Development''' ('''UNCTAD''') promotes the integration of developing countries into the world economy, as well as shape current policy debates and thinking, with a particular focus on domestic policies and international actions enhancing development.  

'''UNCTAD''' is the '''United Nations Conference on Trade and Development'''. It promotes the integration of developing countries into the world economy. Further it helps shape current policy debates and thinking on development, with a particular focus on domestic policies and international actions enhancing development.  

The UNCTAF Secretariat works with United Nations system, regional commissions, governmental institutions, non-governmental organizations, the private sector (including trade and industry associations), research institutes and universities worldwide.<ref>[http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Page.asp?intItemID=1530&lang=1 UNCTAD]</ref>

With focus on the development the secretariat works with United Nations system, regional commissions, governmental institutions, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, including trade and industry associations, research institutes and universities worldwide.<ref>[http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Page.asp?intItemID=1530&lang=1 UNCTAD]</ref> UNCTAD promotes e-commerce for the developing countries of the world. It is organizes e-commerce workshops to be held in developing countries such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kenya, and Peru.<ref>[http://www.isoc.org/oti/articles/1000/aizu.html ISOC]</ref> It also publishes reports on Information Technology economics. These reports can be downloaded through the official website.<ref>[http://www.unctad.org/Templates/WebFlyer.asp?intItemID=6092&lang=1 UNCTAD Information Economy Report 2011]</ref>

UNCTAD was formed to discuss the growing issues in the trading community of developing countries in early 60s. [[Raúl Prebisch]] became the first General Secretary of the organization. The first conference of UNCTAD was held in Geneva in 1964, after which it has taken place every four years.

 

 

Regarding the development of poor countries, in 1981, UNCTAD organized the first UN Conference on Least Developed Countries. In 1986 UNCTAD played a role in the launch of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade General Agreement on Trade in Services. It made an Agreement on the Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries in 1989.

 

UNCTAD proposed development-oriented “international financial architecture” in 1990s in response to worldwide financial crisis. The organization is now focused on analytical research of trade, investment, technology, enterprise development and the link between them, as well as to expand work on international investment issues.

UNCTAD has increased its technical assistance services, which include training trade negotiators and addressing trade-related issues; debt management, investment policy reviews and the promotion of entrepreneurship; commodities; competition law and policy; and trade and environment.<ref>[http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Page.asp?intItemID=3358&lang=1 UNCTAD]</ref>

 

Since January 1999, UNCTAD has been promoting e-commerce in the world, with special consideration for developing countries.<ref>[http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/38/47/2758741.pdf OECD]</ref> It organizes e-commerce workshops to be held in developing countries such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kenya, and Peru.<ref>[http://www.isoc.org/oti/articles/1000/aizu.html ISOC]</ref> It also publishes reports on Information Technology economics. These reports can be downloaded through the official website.<ref>[http://www.unctad.org/Templates/WebFlyer.asp?intItemID=6092&lang=1 UNCTAD Information Economy Report 2011]</ref> UNCTAD has organized a domain name dispute resolution policy which can be read [http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/edmmisc232add35_en.pdf here].

==Key Functionality==

==Key Functionality==

The basic responsibilities of UNCTAD are summarized in three points:

The basic responsibilities of UNCTAD are summarized in three points:

* Provision of a forum for intergovernmental deliberations, supported by discussions for building consensus of experts.

* Provision of a forum for intergovernmental deliberations, supported by discussions for building consensus of experts;

* Carrying out research, policy analysis and data collection for the debates of government representatives and experts.

* Carrying out research, policy analysis and data collection for the debates of government representatives and experts;

* Provision of assistance in building economy of developing countries.

* Provision of assistance in building economy of developing countries.<ref>[http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Page.asp?intItemID=1530&lang=1 UNCTAD]</ref>

<ref>[http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Page.asp?intItemID=1530&lang=1 UNCTAD]</ref>

 

In the field of technology UNCTAD has started E-Tourism and ASYCUDA programs to speed up custom clearances and managing tourism information respectively.

CSTD is short for Commission on Science and Technology for Development. It is a body of Economic and Social Council and is governed by UNCTAD. The commission provides advice to General Assembly and Economic and Social Council for the development in the field of science and technology.<ref>[http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Startpage.asp?intItemID=4839 UNCTAD]</ref> CSTD conducted a [[WSIS]] event in May 2009.<ref>[http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:0kykfIV4RgUJ:www.unctad.org/templates/Download.asp?docid%3D12396%26lang%3D1%26intItemID%3D2068+UNCTAD+ICANN&hl=en&gl=pk UNCTAD Downloads]</ref>

<ref>[http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Page.asp?intItemID=3359&lang=1 UNCTAD]</ref>

==ICT Events==

==Relationship with International Organizations==

UNCTAD arranges [[WSIS]] workshops and events regularly.<ref>[http://www.unctadxi.org/templates/Page____2810.aspx UNCTADxi]</ref> In the field of Information and Communication Technologies UNCTAD has hosted following events:

* Open Consultation held in October 2009 concerning financial mechanisms for meeting the challenges of ICTs for Development.

* UNCTAD signed a [[Memorandum of Understanding]] with the [[World Trade Organization]] in April 2003. Both organizations work together frequently to provide consultation on technical issues.

* ICT 4 All Forum Tunis+4, in November 2009.

* The [[International Trade Center]] is sponsored by UNCTAD and WTO. It works for operational, enterprise-oriented aspects of trade development and focuses on assisting businesses in developing countries.

<ref>[http://www.unctad.org/sections/dite_dir/docs/panel2009_Geiger_en.pdf UNCTAD Panel 2009]</ref>

* UNCTAD works with UN Regional Commissions and [[UNDP]] for research-related projects and joint seminars, workshops and and for supporting UNCTAD activities in different countries.

* It works with Bretton Woods institutions and IMF. It is a member of Inter-Agency Task Force for finance statistics.<ref>[http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Page.asp?intItemID=3357&lang=1 UNCTAD]</ref>

==Conferences==

UNCTAD conference is held after every four years. Upcoming UNCTAD conference is expected to be from 21 to 26 April, 2012 in Doha, Qatar. The last four conferences were held in:

===Conferences===

UNCTAD conferences are held every four years. The upcoming UNCTAD conference is set for 17 to 22 April, 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya. The last five conferences were held in:

* Accra, Ghana from 20 to 25 April 2008.

* Accra, Ghana from 20 to 25 April 2008.

* São Paulo, Brazil from 13 to 18 June 2004.

* São Paulo, Brazil from 13 to 18 June 2004.

* Bangkok, Thailand from 12 to 19 February in 2000.

* Bangkok, Thailand from 12 to 19 February in 2000.

* Midrand, South Africa from 27 April to 11 May in 1996.

* Midrand, South Africa from 27 April to 11 May in 1996.<ref>[http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Page.asp?intItemID=3375&lang=1 UNCTAD Conferences]</ref>

<ref>[http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Page.asp?intItemID=3375&lang=1 UNCTAD Conferences]</ref>

 

* ICT 4 All Forum Tunis+4, in November 2009.<ref>[http://www.unctad.org/sections/dite_dir/docs/panel2009_Geiger_en.pdf UNCTAD Panel 2009]</ref>

==References==

==References==

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[[Category:Glossary|UNCTAD]]

[[Category:Organizations]]