UN Trade and Development’s 16th quadrennial conference (UNCTAD16) will focus on driving economic transformation for a more sustainable future.
© UNCTAD Photo | The Trade and Development Board meets for its 33rd special session in Geneva on 17 January.
The 16th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD16) will take place Viet Nam in October 2025 under the theme “Shaping the future: Driving economic transformation for equitable, inclusive and sustainable development”.
The announcement by Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan comes as the organization’s Trade and Development Board convenes for its 33rd special session in Geneva on 17 January.
The conference is UNCTAD’s highest decision-making body, where 195 member states assess current trade and development issues and formulate global policy responses. It also sets the organization’s work priorities for the next four years.
The event is expected to gather heads of state, government ministers of trade and economy, Nobel Prize-winning economists, leading civil society organizations and leaders of international organizations.
Why UNCTAD16 matters
UNCTAD16 comes at a time when the need for stronger multilateralism and global cooperation is greater than ever, when development must progress against the odds.
The global economy is undergoing a profound transformation in the wake of the cascading impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical shifts of a scale not seen in decades and the accelerating impacts of technology and climate change.
Speaking to the Trade and Development Board, Secretary-General Grynspan highlights the historic significance of UNCTAD16, thanking Viet Nam for its generous offer to host the quadrennial conference.
“Viet Nam represents not just a development success story, but a testament to how trade and development can work together to transform the lives of people,” says Ms Grynspan.
“Asia’s rising economic influence, achievements in regional integration and growing diplomatic leadership make Viet Nam the ideal setting to reimagine the future of global trade and development.”
16 actions for UNCTAD16
In her report to UNCTAD16, Secretary-General Grynspan underscores the organization’s commitment to supporting member states to shape their future in an increasingly multipolar world.
The secretary-general spotlights 16 actions for UNCTAD16 to help nations better harness trade, investment, finance and technology for sustainable development.
The actions seek to bolster the four areas of transformation – which countries agreed in 2021 through the landmark Bridgetown Covenant – accelerating efforts towards:
- More diversified economies
- More inclusive, sustainable and resilient economies
- More abundant and stable finance for development
- More multilateralism in a multipolar world
