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The world’s most vulnerable countries are facing increasing challenges, according to a report from the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) presented this Monday. On the eve of its scheduled international ministerial meeting from October 20 to 24 in Geneva, UNCTAD highlights the combination of trade uncertainty, a heavy debt burden, and a decline in investment as critical factors particularly affecting developing nations.
Rebeca Grynspan, UNCTAD’s Secretary-General, emphasizes that we are in a period of transformation in multilateral trade. The decisions made during the gathering are deemed essential for the future of global development policies. Grynspan stresses that political uncertainty can have an even more negative impact than tariffs, directly affecting investment, employment, and competitiveness in the least developed countries.
Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, there was an approximate increase of $500 billion in global trade in the first half of 2025. This translates to a growth of 5% in goods and 6% in services, largely driven by support from developing economies. However, Grynspan highlighted the urgent need to restore predictability in trade to sustain this momentum.
In the financial realm, Grynspan warned about the rising human cost of indebtedness, noting that nearly 3.4 billion people live in countries where debt service costs exceed spending on health and education. She advocates for the creation of a more equitable and accessible financial system that facilitates access to long-term capital.
The decline in foreign direct investment in developing nations has also been a concern. Grynspan emphasized the need to attract investments not only in quantitative terms but also qualitatively, prioritizing sectors such as sustainable infrastructure, green energy, health, and education.
Additionally, a report on the Occupied Palestinian Territories is expected to be presented in November that will assess the time required to restore the Palestinian economy to pre-conflict levels.
This event will bring together representatives from over a hundred countries, including 60 ministers and 40 deputy ministers, with expected participation from the UN Secretary-General. Discussions will focus on key topics such as trade, finance, investment, and technology, highlighting the interconnection of these pillars for global progress, particularly for the most vulnerable.
Referrer: MiMub in Spanish
