The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) serves as a focal point for trade and development, aiming to assist developing countries in integrating into the global economy. Its functions include promoting international trade, formulating related policies, and facilitating coordination within the UN system. While UNCTAD has key advantages like promoting development and providing technical assistance, it faces limitations such as limited enforcement power and political constraints.

2. UNCTAD

3. TABLE OF CONTENTS

4. Meaning of
UNCTAD.
 Functions
of
UNCTAD.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 Adv. And
Dis. Of
UNCTAD
 Role and
its
Importance

5. Meaning of UNCTAD
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD) is the United Nations’ focal point for trade and
development, and for interrelated issues in the areas of finance,
technology, investment and sustainable development.
Its objective is to assist developing countries, especially the
least developed countries, and countries with economies in
transition, to integrate beneficially into the global economy.
It also seeks to help the international community promote a
global partnership for development.

6. Key points
• Ultimately, we are serving the citizens of the 195 countries that
make up our organization.
• Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, UNCTAD has
approximately 190 members
• UNCTAD World Investment Report (WIR) 2022 has ranked
India at 7th rank among the top 20 host economies for 2021, in
terms of FDI.

7. Functions of UNCTAD
(i) To promote international trade between the developed and
under-developed countries having diverse socio-economic
organisations with special emphasis upon the accelerated
development of the under-developed countries.
(ii) To formulate the principles and policies concerning
international trade and related problems of economic
development.

8. (iii) To make proposals for putting the said principles and policies
into effect and to adopt measures that may be relevant to this
end.
(iv) To generally review and facilitate the coordination of
activities of other institutions within the fold of the United
Nations related to international trade and economic
development.

9. • v) To be available as a centre for harmonious trade-related
policies of governments and the regional economic groupings in
pursuance of Article 7 of the Charter of the United Nations.

10. Role and its Importance
1. Research and Analysis
2. Policy Advice
3. Capacity Building
4. Consensus-Building
5. Promoting Trade and Investment Addressing Development
Challenges.

11. key advantages of UNCTAD
1. Promoting Development
2. Policy Analysis and Research
3. Technical Assistance and Capacity Building
4. Trade and Investment Facilitation
5. Addressing Global Challenges
6. North-South Dialogue and Global South Representation
7. Networking and Partnerships

12. Limitations of UNCTAD
1. Limited Enforcement Power
2. Political Considerations
3. Funding Constraints
4. Diverse Member Priorities
5. Overlapping Mandates
6. Lack of Representation
7. Evolving Global Economic Landscape