Geneva, Switzerland, Sept, 29, 2025– World leaders, trade ministers, and global experts will convene in Geneva for the sixteenth United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD16), taking place from 20 to 23 October at the Palais des Nations.
The high-level meeting, to be hosted by the Swiss government, comes at a critical moment for global trade as countries grapple with rising debt, climate pressures, widening inequalities, and economic uncertainty.
With the theme “Shaping the future: Driving economic transformation for equitable, inclusive and sustainable development,” the conference aims to chart new pathways for fairer global trade and development.
UN Trade and Development Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan emphasized the urgency of collective action, noting that “development is not a luxury but a necessity.”
UNCTAD16 has brought together heads of state, government ministers, Nobel laureates, leaders of international organizations, civil society actors, and experts to seek practical solutions to today’s challenges.
Background
Established in 1964, UNCTAD is the UN’s principal body dealing with trade, investment and development issues. It brings together 195 member states and convenes a major conference every four years to update its mandate in response to shifts in the global economy. Past meetings have played a key role in shaping international trade policies and advancing discussions on sustainable development.
This year’s session is expected to produce renewed commitments to cooperation and reforms aimed at ensuring global trade benefits vulnerable economies most affected by inequality and instability.
