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Hemp is an amazing plant that is eco-friendly and used in food products, biofuels, textiles and even building materials. Its global market could hit $18.6 billion by 2027, a new  says.

Celebrating female entrepreneurship, a recent tells the stories of 21 women from developing countries who’ve defied a myriad of challenges to build successful businesses.

A new calls for increased investment in maritime supply chains. Ports, shipping fleets and hinterland connections need better prepare for future global crises and climate change.

A new report by explores how urban entrepreneurs, or urbanpreneurs, use innovative solutions to tackle challenges triggered by rapid urbanization and drive the expansion of smart cities.

’s eTrade readiness assessment for Peru will provide diagnostics of how the country is taking advantage of digitalization and e-commerce for development.

In the second episode of their Weekly Tradecast featured in   talks to Paul Akiwumi, Director of the Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programme division. Soaring food and energy prices are hitting especially hard as the region struggles with the impact of the pandemic and climate change. The continent of 1.4 billion people relies heavily on grain and other essentials from Ukraine and Russia – exposing them to shortages and crippling costs that imperil development. Mr. Akiwumi, who led the production of the UN trade and development body’s latest , says that to cope with this crisis and insulate itself for the future, Africa must rethink how it diversifies its economies to attract investment and narrow huge income gaps.

Blue BioTrade is the sustainable use and trade of marine resources in a way that improves livelihoods while protecting our ocean.   and partners promote a that aims to empower small-scale producers to prepare and trade queen conch products under the Blue BioTrade environmental, social and economic sustainability criteria. Queen conch is a highly appreciated seafood delicacy with important non-food uses.

“We don't have to be naive, but we have to believe in change, because change has happened. And we can make it happen again.”

Despite monitoring multiple global crises, Rebeca Grynspan has never lost her faith in the power of change. As Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), she is assessing the impact of the war in Ukraine on cash-strapped countries still reeling from the pandemic. A trio of crises – climate change, COVID-19, and the war in Ukraine – are setting global development by decades, with vulnerable countries worst affected by global food and energy shortages. In this episode, Rebeca Grynspan reflects on these setbacks, their disproportionate impact on women, and why the world can never give up on the promise of development.

Photo: ©UNCTAD/Violaine Martin

Nafasova Mukaddas is helping to create a sustainable future, literally, one stitch at a time. She has been involved in sewing clothes for the past five years, and her services are in great demand as the next-closest seamstress is 37 kilometres away. She and her husband were able to access small grants through the . The project operates with the understanding that to protect significant biodiversity across the country, work to support local communities is a necessity.

has appointed new “eTrade for Women advocates” to empower women in the digital economy and promote more inclusive e-commerce ecosystems - the third cohort in its . 

This 2 July, cooperatives all around the world will celebrate the 100th International Day of Cooperatives. A decade on from the UN International Year of Cooperatives, the United Nations invites cooperatives around the world to celebrate how the human-centred business model is building a better world. Cooperatives represent at least 12% of people on earth who are members of any of the 3 million cooperatives worldwide. They play an important role in addressing the needs of their members and communities and in the process, they contribute towards the implementation of the SDGs. #CoopsDay

Micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) account for 90% of businesses, 60 to 70% of employment and 50% of GDP worldwide. As the backbone of societies everywhere they contribute to local and national economies and to sustaining livelihoods, in particular among the working poor, women, youth, and groups in vulnerable situations. This year, the  marks the 5th anniversary of Micro-, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises Day (27 June), when small businesses are more than ever in need of support, as they navigate the impacts of the COVID pandemic, conflicts and the climate crisis.

’s port management programme helped Bolivia change its port regulations, paving the way for a private operator like Port Jennefer to earn international status.

Protecting our ocean and boosting its economic benefits demands a global trade, investment and innovation "Blue Deal" to create a sustainable and resilient ocean economy that benefits all.

Four United Nations organizations have issued a  calling for continued global collaboration to address the crew change crisis that, at times during the COVID-19 pandemic, has left more than 400,000 seafarers stranded at sea.