Meeting in Bangkok this week, the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) finalized their 2026 Report to APEC Economic Leaders, which represents the business community's recommendations to address the region's evolving economic challenges. The focus of the report is APEC’s opportunity to demonstrate global leadership by reinforcing openness, strengt...
Statement by Marcos Neto, UN Assistant Secretary-General, and Director of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2026 Thematic Event on Accelerating Energy System Innovation and Transition for Equity and Resilience to Advance Global Sustainable DevelopmentAs prepared for deliveryExcellencies, Distinguished...
Geneva, 8 July 2026 — The United Nations Development Programme’s Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (UNDP ICPSD) joined HP, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the World Alliance of YMCAs and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for a luncheon session on connecting artificial intelligence skills with employment,...
DOWNLOAD PICTUREEvery morning, a farmer in rural Uzbekistan plans his day around the condition of local roads. Outside Delhi, commuters and freight operators lose hours navigating congested rail lines. Along Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, port workers are preparing for a new terminal that will reshape trade flows for decades.These experiences reflect differ...
At its meeting on 7-10 July, the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee tackled a broad agenda, including standards for critical and emerging technologies, climate-resilient buildings and lithium-ion batteries. The Committee also adopted improvements to transparency procedures and related digital tools and reviewed 70 specific trade concerns raised by...
Montreal, Canada, 10 July 2026 – Forty-three projects, including a regional project, to be implemented in 22 countries at a cost of USD 14 million, were approved in the latest meeting of the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol. These approvals further strengthen the United Nations Industrial Develop...
Governments adopted a record 229 investment policy measures in 2025.Most measures remained favourable to investors, but increasingly targeted strategic sectors and national priorities.Incentives accounted for half of favourable measures, with growing focus on digital infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, energy-transition technologies and critical minera...
WASHINGTON, July 9, 2026—The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved financing to accelerate India’s national program for solar rooftops to bring clean energy to millions of homes and create 1.7 million job opportunities across the renewable energy manufacturing, installation, and services value chain.India has committed to achieving ne...
Istanbul, Türkiye, July 7, 2026 — The UNDP Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (ICPSD) SDG AI Lab hosted its Summer 2026 Demo Day on July 7, bringing together policymakers, technology experts, and development partners to explore AI-powered solutions for sustainable development. As part of its commitment to inclusivity and mult...
The international community met in Geneva for a series of major meetings on artificial intelligence: the AI for Good Global Summit, the inaugural Global Dialogue on AI Governance, and the World Summit on the Information Society Forum.Throughout these events, ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton has delivered a clear message: small businesses must no...
