UNESCO reports 10 Southern Africa festivals generated $11M+ and 3,000 jobs in 2024, highlighting their vital yet overlooked economic and cultural role.A new UNESCO report shows that ten festivals in Southern Africa generated over $11 million in economic activity and nearly 3000 jobs in 2024, demonstrating their significant, yet underrecognized, r...
One clear message from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s (AIIB) 10th Annual Meeting held in Beijing in June – attended by over 3,500 participants from around the world – was that unlocking private capital is critical for inclusive and sustainable growth.As an economist from Bangladesh with a passion for development, the discussions inspired me ...
Building on the themes of the last two global editions of the Global Education Monitoring Report – technology in 2023 and leadership in 2024/5 – this regional edition is the result of a partnership of the GEM Report with Beijing Normal University (China), Sophia University (Japan) and the Korean Educational Development Institute (Republic of Korea)....
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) today released its inaugural Sustainability Report, applying the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) disclosure requirements to voluntarily report on the financial impacts of climate-related risks and opportunities.The 2024 report outlines how climate considerations are integrated across ...
OverviewThis year’s report provides the external sector assessment of 30 of the world’s largest economies on the basis of their 2024 data.Global current account balances in 2024 widened significantly. Staff assessment suggests that excess current account balances account for about two-thirds of the widening, with China, the United States, and the euro ar...
BOGOR/HYBRID, 13 August 2025 – Senior economic officials and experts from ASEAN Member States gathered today in Bogor, Indonesia, for the 4th Meeting of the ASEAN Geoeconomics Task Force (AGTF) to discuss strategies in navigating intensifying global geoeconomic challenges.The meeting, co-chaired by YB Liew Chin Tong, Deputy Minister, Ministry of...
At the first-ever Global SME Ministerial in Johannesburg, the International Trade Centre (ITC) led a series of dynamic events to make small agribusinesses more competitive and sustainable. From immersive market tours to circular economy panels and hands-on product showcases, ITC spotlighted innovative pathways to access new markets and scale impact.Po...
The new tool maps over 400 treaties since 2010, offering a clear and comparative overview of global and country-specific investment policy trends.© Shutterstock/Agnieszka Gaul |Nairobi, Kenya. Investment facilitation remains key to boosting vital areas like infrastructure for sustainable development.UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is seeking to help cou...
World merchandise trade is now projected to grow 0.9% in 2025, up from the -0.2% contraction forecasted in April but down from the 2.7% estimate pre-dating the tariff increases. The upgrade is mostly due to frontloading of imports in the United States, WTO economists said in a forecast update released on 8 August. However, higher tariffs over time will wei...
SummaryAt its meeting on 24 July 2025, the Governing Council decided to keep the three key ECB interest rates unchanged. Inflation is currently at the 2% medium-term target. The incoming information is broadly in line with the Governing Council’s previous assessment of the inflation outlook. Domestic price pressures have continued to ease, with wages grow...
