UNCTAD-15 shifts to October 2021

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), initially set for this year in Barbados, has been pushed back to October 2021 as a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps over some member countries.

At a press briefing to announce further changes to the conference held every four years, Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced that after careful consideration of the current state of the global pandemic, and following consultation between the host country and the UNCTAD Secretariat, the joint decision has been taken to reschedule the conference.

She told reporters: “When we agreed earlier this year to postpone the Conference to April 2021, we did not foresee this trajectory of the pandemic. We take very seriously the health and safety of all who will participate in the Conference-Barbadians and visitors alike.”

UNCTAD’s 15th session was initially scheduled to be held in Barbados from October 18 to 23, but the dates were pushed back to April 25 to 30, 2021 because of the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which started to affect the world early this year.

UNCTAD’s 195 member countries experiencing new waves of the pandemic have seen the re-introduction of measures such as lockdowns and other restrictions. UNCTAD’s Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, has also been affected by the pandemic mitigation measures.

During the conference, policymakers assess the current trade development issues, discuss policy options and formulate global responses to the challenges affecting member states, particularly developing states. As is customary, the conference also sets the UN organisation’s mandate and work priorities for the next four years.

“Work on hosting UNCTAD 15 is well advanced, and the planning will continue apace,” Mottley added. “We are heartened by the encouraging news in relation to the vaccines which are being rolled out and anticipate that the world will be in a much better public health position by October next year. We are cautiously optimistic that we can deliver a safe and secure conference then.”

UNCTAD Secretary-General Dr Mukhisa Kituyi made reference to the fact that lockdowns and delays have impeded the progress of substantive negotiations in Geneva.

Dr Kituyi said UNCTAD has reviewed the calendar of the United Nations and related international organizations for the next several months, and have agreed on the new dates as being the most suitable.

The six forums preceding the conference will now take place on October 1 and 2 and the morning of October 3.  (AH)