Mr. Apichart Chinwanno, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, designated as the Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, is to attend the Fourteenth Session of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XIV) from 17 - 22 July 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The UNCTAD XIV will be the first Ministerial Conference after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by the UN in 2015. Held under the theme “From Decision to Action: Moving towards an inclusive and equitable global economic environment for trade and development”, the conference reflects Thailand’s theme as Group of 77 Chairman, which aim to promote effective implementation of progress made through various international conferences held in 2015 especially in inclusive economic development. Four main topics are to be discussed during the conference, namely (1) challenges and opportunities for trade and development in multilateral framework (2) promotion of inclusive and sustainable economic growth through trade, investment, finance, and technology to achieve universal prosperity (3) methods to advance structural reforms in order to achieve economic resilience in order to prepare for new trading and developmental challenges as well as opportunities (4) contribution to the effective implementation of and follow-up to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and relevant outcomes from global conferences and summits relating to trade and development.

In addition, during the conference, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand will be organizing the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) Exhibition to share Thailand’s best practices on sustainable development and to showcase the accomplishment in its application in other countries. The exhibition will also serve to demonstrate Thailand’s work as Group of 77 Chairman to push for the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Prior to the conference, on 17 July 2016, the Group of 77 will be holding the G77 Ministerial Meeting to discuss the issues concerning the group’s interests and to set policies and strategies for the group to work with UNCTAD in the next four years. At the meeting, the Permanent Secretary is scheduled to deliver a statement on Thailand’s accomplishment as the Chair of G77 in 2016.

The World Investment Forum will also be held as an integral part of the UNCTAD XIV during 17 - 21 July 2016, which will bring together high-ranking representatives from 194 member states of the UN, including ministers, CEOs from international organizations, business sectors and civil society to discuss reform prospective in International Investment Agreements (IIAs) and relevant policies. Thailand’s participation in the forum will serve as an important platform for Thailand to help determine development direction of the new agreements and policies.

UNCTAD was established in 1964 as a subsidiary organ of the United Nations General Assembly. It currently comprises of 194 member states and Thailand is one of its founding members. UNCTAD serves as a forum for member states as well as its observers to discuss and exchange views on issues regarding trade and development, finance, investment and technology. The UNCTAD Ministerial Conference is convened every four years, and Thailand had hosted the Tenth Session in 2000.