UN Trade And Development

UN Trade and Development (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) is a permanent intergovernmental body within the United Nations system that promotes the integration of developing countries into the world economy. Established in 1964, the organisation serves as the focal point within the UN for the integrated treatment of trade and development and related issues in the areas of finance, technology, investment and sustainable development. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, UN Trade and Development operates with a mandate to maximise the trade, investment and development opportunities of developing countries and assist them in facing challenges arising from globalisation and integrating into the world economy on an equitable basis. The organisation provides policy analysis, facilitates consensus-building among member states, and offers technical assistance to developing nations. It publishes influential reports on global trade, investment flows, commodity markets and economic development trends, including the annual Trade and Development Report and World Investment Report. UN Trade and Development convenes a quadrennial conference that brings together heads of state and government to set the organisation's policy direction. The body comprises 195 member states and maintains field offices in several developing regions. Its work spans research, intergovernmental deliberations and technical cooperation, with particular focus on least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states. The organisation was formerly known as UNCTAD until a rebranding in recent years to emphasise its development mandate alongside trade.