The Trade and Development Board,
Recognizing the importance of strengthened productive capacities and complementary domestic policies for achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth in the least developed countries,
Noting that countries with a broader and deeper set of productive capacities are better positioned to face the effects of domestic and external shocks,
Noting that the recent pandemic has confirmed that there is a need for global action for recovery, requiring coherent and comprehensive approach and measures, reflecting especially the needs of the least developed countries in the fields of trade, finance, technology and capacity-building, to effectively address the root causes of the slow progress of the least developed countries towards their graduation, smooth and sustainable transition and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals,
Emphasizing that the least developed countries, by developing productive capacities, including trade and investment facilitation capacities, will be better positioned to enter and compete in international markets in goods and services, especially in more sophisticated value added goods and beyond primary commodities, and better leverage technology and innovation,
- Recommends that, given the slow development of productive capacities in the least developed countries, the forthcoming programme of action to be adopted during the Fifth United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries, for the decade 2022–2031, should espouse productive capacities as the overarching organizing framework;
- Encourages UNCTAD to continue to contribute to the implementation and evaluation of the new programme of action for the least developed countries, including by assisting the least developed countries in identifying and implementing domestic policies that will boost their productive capacities, while ensuring social, economic and environmental sustainability and inclusion, including for women and youth.
