Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 6 March 2026, delivered the keynote speech at the Symposium on Economic Resilience Strategy for Japan and ASEAN in Tokyo, Japan. In his remarks, SG Dr. Kao emphasised the importance of industrial cooperation, supply chain resilience, and sustainable growth in shaping the foundation of regional economic resi...
ITC's online directory of verified packaging suppliers is helping small businesses across East Africa find affordable, quality packaging — and cut through a challenge that has long limited their growth. ITC brought the directory to thousands of people at Propak East Africa, the region's leading event for packaging, plastics, print, and processing....
HighlightGlobal trade is being reshaped by shifting trade partnerships and policies, evolving supply chains and the search for resilient growth. This report examines two decades of trade expansion among the 10 BRICS members, revealing how economic ties are evolving and creating new opportunities for the global South.BRICS is named for its founding members,...
WTO members on 5 March completed a series of meetings dedicated to advancing work on WTO reform. Over the past month, members have exchanged views on a draft ministerial statement and a work plan intended to frame the scope of reform efforts following the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) on 26-29 March. They also finalized preparations for the ministeria...
UNDP Supports Turkmenistan in Development of a National Artificial intelligence (AI) Strategy for Sustainable Digital TransformationAshgabat, Turkmenistan, 5 March 2026: From 5 to 6 March 2026, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Communications of Turkmenistan, is convening a semina...
Building foreign exchange reserves requires sound policies and takes time, but global efforts to lower the cost of holding them can helpPierre-Olivier GourinchasMarch 5, 2026Listen with SpeechifyParticipants at Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ula conference in February rightly lauded emerging market economies’ impressive resilience since the g...
Opening Remarks by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva at the Asia in 2050 Conference in Bangkok, Thailand As prepared for deliveryA very good morning to all.Governor Vitai, thank you for co-hosting this conference in the run-up to our Annual Meetings here in Bangkok later in the year.Having just seen the amazing location fo...
There are few elegant, easy, or politically attractive ways to reduce debtFor years, policymakers have treated government debt like an elastic band that could be stretched without ever snapping. They stretched during the global financial crisis and again during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, with public debt exceeding annual economic output in several major...
The Global Trade Helpdesk offers a comprehensive platform that simplifies market research for firms of all sizes. By teaming up with the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), the online tool now offers insight on which markets to sell to, and how to get products there.As companies negotiate deals with buyers and exp...
HighlightThe global push towards clean energy is driving a surge in demand for critical energy transition minerals such as cobalt and nickel – essential for electric vehicles, batteries and renewable technologies. Mineral-rich developing countries stand to benefit. But without targeted policies, the gains risk bypassing women.Drawing on case studies from ...
