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As the global economy undergoes tectonic shifts in trade, finance and technology, global economic and development leaders will gather in Geneva this month to chart a path through mounting uncertainty and fragmentation.
Ahead of the 16th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD16), Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan outlined how countries can navigate record debt, disrupted supply chains, volatile investment flows and accelerating digital transformation.
Hosted by Switzerland, UNCTAD16 (20-23 October, Palais de Nations) will bring together minsters of trade and finance, heads of international organizations, Nobel laureates and leading economists to explore ways to make them global economy more predictable, inclusive and sustainable.
“Development is not a luxury, it’s a necessity”, Ms. Grynspan says. “We need to rebuild trust in an economy that works for everyone.”
Website: https://unctad.org/unctad16
Production Date: 13 October 2025
Creator: UNCTAD / UNTV CH
Subject Topical: Trade and Development
Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT – UNCTAD
STORY: UNCTAD / 16TH CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT
TRT: 02:13
SOURCE: UNCTAD / UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 13 OCTOBER 2025, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
WEBSITE: https://unctad.org/unctad16
Shotlist
1. Wide shot, Palais des Nations
2. Briefing room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General, UNCTAD:
“Hosting the conference here in Geneva strengthens Geneva as a global centre for trade policy and dialogue. Geneva is a strong ecosystem for international organizations, and we are happy to have our conference here — after 61 years, because we started here in Geneva, where UNCTAD was created.”
4. Medium shot, journalists in the briefing room
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General, UNCTAD:
“The conference will bring together countries for a general debate that will last all week. We already have around 100 countries that have confirmed their participation from capital — around 60 ministers and 40 vice-ministers will be with us. We already have 1,700 people registered to attend the conference.”
6. Medium shot, journalists in the briefing room.
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General, UNCTAD:
“The United Nations Secretary-General will also join us, underscoring the importance of UNCTAD. This is the UN’s largest trade conference in four years, and UNCTAD16 takes place at a critical time for global trade and for multilateralism.”
8. Medium shot, briefing room
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General, UNCTAD:
“We are witnessing a transformational shift in multilateral trade. The decisions we make during UNCTAD16 will impact the future of trade and global development policy and debate. Over the four days of the conference, we will be confronting some of the most critical challenges in the global economy and in the geoeconomics of our time.”
10. Various shots, briefing room
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