Established in 1964, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) promotes the development-friendly integration of developing countries into the world economy and consists of 194 member states. It is the principal organ of the United Nations General Assembly dealing with trade, investment and development issues.
UNCTAD achieves its goals through research, policy analyses, intergovernmental deliberations and technical cooperation activities. Many intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as representatives of civil society, participate in its work as observers.
UNCTAD has evolved into an authoritative knowledge-based institution whose work aims to help shape current policy debates and thinking on development, with a particular focus on ensuring that domestic policies and international action are mutually supportive in bringing about sustainable development. UNCTAD adopts many of the relevant ICT programs.
Egypt is a member in both UNCTAD and its board. A major achievement of the cooperation between MCIT and UNCTAD was the ICT Policy Review for Egypt, a study of the ICT policies adopted by the Egyptian government and Egypt’s main achievements and challenges in the ICT field, launched during ITU Telecom 2011.
In addition, MCIT and its affiliates participate in UNCTAD intergovernmental meetings on e-commerce and digital economy.