Conference Theme

“From inequality and vulnerability to prosperity for all”

Building on the theme of the UNCTAD14 conference, which emphasized the need to move from decision to action, UNCTAD's 15th quadrennial conference, UNCTAD15, seeks a concrete decade of action in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals. The conference is focused on reducing inequality and vulnerability by ensuring trade works for all and that development remains high on the global agenda. The theme, “From inequality and vulnerability to prosperity for all”, is a clarion call to work to fix the fractures across the world in favour of prosperity for all. UNCTAD15 takes place online, hosted by Barbados, from 3 to 7 October, 2021.

WORLD LEADERS SUMMIT

MINISTERIAL ROUNDTABLES

News

UNCTAD15 youth declaration identifies priorities for COVID-19 recovery

The declaration will serve as a springboard for youth diplomacy to grow into a legitimate force and shape the trade and development agenda in the coming years.

Strong declaration on COVID-19 vaccines, trade, debt and climate adopted at historic UNCTAD15 conference

During the four-day conference, world leaders, ministers of trade, leading economists and heads of UN agencies and global financial institutions called for a new development model, with socioeconomic transformation and sustainability at its centre.

UNCTAD15: Policies are critical to harnessing frontier technologies for good

Good policy choices and actions will make the difference in steering technological change towards economic recovery and development outcomes that leave no one behind.

UNCTAD15: A ministerial conference committed to gender equality

The 15th session of the UN Conference on Trade and Development was the first to feature a forum dedicated to gender and development.

General Debate

The General Debate was the opportunity for member States to express their views on the substantive issues of the Conference through formal statements.

All statements are available to download as PDF or video recordings.

Open

Key Speakers

António Guterres

Secretary-General

Mia Amor Mottley

Prime Minister of Barbados

Rebeca Grynspan

Secretary-General of UNCTAD

Uhuru Kenyatta

President of the Republic of Kenya

Amina J. Mohammed

Deputy Secretary-General of United Nations

Carlos Alvarado Quesada

President of Costa Rica

Felix Tshisekedi

President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Mohamed Irfaan Ali

President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana

Abdulla Shahid

President of the UN General Assembly

Inger Andersen

Executive Director of UNEP

Vera Songwe

Executive Secretary of UNECA

Tedros Ghebreyesus

Director General of WHO

Winnie Byanyima

Executive Director of UNAIDS

Michelle Bachelet

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Director-General of the WTO

Gabriela Bucher

Executive Director of Oxfam International

Carla Natalie Barnett

Secretary-General of CARICOM

Explore the virtual conference centre

Explore

Join our unique virtual conference, where you will have the opportunity to hear from world leaders and global experts, visit exhibition booths, participate in campaigns and network with other attendees. We have built a fully-equipped virtual conference centre where you can have a full and vibrant virtual experience that mimics all you would expect of a physical conference. Connect to the centre here.