"Financing Development through Trade: Harnessing Digital Opportunities"

Summary: This policy brief highlights the challenges faced by Asia-Pacific developing economies, in particular LDCs, in tapping the potential of digital trade opportunities to finance sustainable development and discusses some potential policy solutions. It focuses on promoting domestic resource mobilization, fostering international cooperation, and supporting LDCs to participate in digital trade. The key recommendations include closing the digital divide, establishing coordinated digital tax frameworks, strengthening regulatory cooperation, and building digital-trade capacity for MSMEs and marginalized groups.

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Action Areas: Domestic and International Private Business and Finance; International Trade as an Engine for Development; Science, Technology, Innovation, and Capacity Building 

ILO

"FDI for Decent and Productive Jobs"

Summary: Investment is necessary but not sufficient for achieving inclusive economic growth and decent work. The ILO MNE Declaration provides an investment framework for coherent and synergistic policies concerning job creation, enterprise development, formalization, skills development and protection of workers’ rights. Consultation with social partners can ensure that decent work is prioritized while also enabling enterprises to grow. And dialogue between host and home countries could lead to better alignment of policies and ODA to support investment facilitation for development.

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Action Areas: International Trade as an Engine for Development; Domestic and International Private Business and Finance; Science, Technology, Innovation, and Capacity Building

"Ensuring Trade Inclusivity for Sustainable Development"

Summary: Trade is vital for economic growth, but protectionism and unilateralism threaten the global trading system, limiting developing countries' participation. These nations face challenges in competing with developed economies' subsidies for green and digital transitions and struggle to secure financing for infrastructure. To enhance their role in global value chains, developing countries require substantial investment in transportation, energy, and digital infrastructure. A specialized infrastructure fund, supported by multilateral development banks and private capital, is crucial to closing this financing gap.

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Action Areas: International Trade as an Engine for Development, Domestic Public Resources

"Better Data on Trade in Services for Effective FFD Strategies"

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Action Areas: International Trade as an Engine for Development, Science, Technology, Innovation

"Re-globalization for Inclusive Trade: Addressing Finance and Policy Gaps for Sustainable Development"

Summary: This policy brief explores the challenges of trade fragmentation and inequality in the global economy, focusing on the impact on low- and middle-income countries. It outlines policy solutions to reduce trade costs, invest in infrastructure, promote economic diversification, and strengthen global trade governance. Specific recommendations for the Fourth Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) include financing for trade infrastructure, bridging the digital divide, improving access to finance, and reducing trade barriers to foster inclusive and sustainable development.

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Action Areas: International Trade as an Engine for Development