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 ...
A focused, risk aligned evaluation agenda to inform decision making across UNDPIsabelle Mercier presents to the UNDP Executive BoardAt its first regular session of 2026, the Executive Board of UNDP approved the Independent Evaluation Office’s (IEO) Multi Year Programme of Work for 2026–2029. The document sets out a focused and strategic evaluation agenda...
UNESCO and Jordan launch the Education Strategic Plan 2026–2030 to advance quality, inclusive, and future-ready education aligned with national and global goals.UNESCO/Dana Almasri4 March 2026Last update:5 March 2026The UNESCO Amman Office, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, officially launched Jordan’s Education Strategic Plan (ESP) 2026–20...
Global debt markets remained resilient in 2025 amidst geopolitical tensions, trade disputes and risks for growth prospects, with governments and companies borrowing a record USD 27 trillion, according to a new OECD report.The OECD Global Debt Report 2026: Sustaining Debt Market Resilience Under Growing Pressure, highlights low levels of...
