Trade and Development Board

GROUP OF 77
GENEVA

G-77 and China Statement

Item 7: Activities undertaken by UNCTAD in support of Africa

(Geneva, 16 September 2026)

President of the Trade and Development Board,
Acting Secretary-General of UNCTAD, Mr. Pedro Manuel Moreno,
Officer in Charge of the Division on Africa, LDCs and Special Programmes Mr Junior Davis

Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

2. At the outset, the Group of 77 & China would like to thank the President, the Acting Secretary-General, and the Director of the Division on Africa, LDCs and Special Programmes for the comprehensive report on the activities undertaken in support of Africa. The Group appreciates the report’s timing, which aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063; and we welcome with much appreciation the increase in UNCTAD's technical cooperation expenditure dedicated to Africa, which reached 33.9% of total expenditure in 2025; or nearly 20 million USD.

3. The Group of 77 and China welcomes UNCTAD's continued support across the four focus areas its report. On inclusive growth and sustainable development, we commend the timely publications of the Economic Development in Africa Report and the Least Developed Countries Report 2025. We appreciate the technical assistance provided to countries such as Zambia, Senegal, Djibouti, and Uganda as they continue their efforts to meet the criteria for graduation from LDC status. The Group also welcomes the projects on the blue economy, as well as the work on critical energy transition minerals in several countries on the continent.

4. The Group strongly reaffirms its support for the African Continental Free Trade Area as an essential vehicle for structural transformation and regional integration in Africa. In this regard, we welcome UNCTAD's practical support in mapping non-tariff measures in 35 countries and in resolving 18 cases of non-tariff barriers through an online monitoring mechanism. The digital tools introduced, such as the "My Africa Cross-Border Trade Assistant" mobile application piloted in Benin and Togo, represent important steps toward integrating informal traders into the formal economy and harnessing the full potential of the AfCFTA. The Group calls on UNCTAD to continue its assistance in reinforcing regional supply chains, reducing trade barriers and building the productive capacities necessary for African countries to reap the full benefits of regional integration.

Madam President,

5. We commend UNCTAD's work on people-driven development, with attention to women and youth, such as the "E-trade for Women" initiative, which has supported over 140 women digital entrepreneurs. We also note with appreciation UNCTAD's contribution to the joint UN-AU-African Development Bank initiative to integrate women-led and youth-led SMEs into priority value chains such as agrifood and green manufacturing.

6. On integration into the world economy, the Group notes the 75 per cent increase in FDI inflows to Africa in 2024, yet we also note that Africa's share of global FDI remains modest and concentrated. The Group also expresses appreciation for UNCTAD's assistance to Comoros and Ethiopia in their WTO accession processes and for the support provided to African LDCs in preparing for the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference. Furthermore, the ASYCUDA programme, now active in 39 African countries, has significantly improved customs efficiency and increased revenue collection, achievements that the Group greatly welcomes. We also find the technical support on measuring and curbing illicit financial flows to be relevant, as it helps African countries retain much-needed resources for sustainable development.

Madam President,

7. In light of the above, the Group of 77 and China calls on the international community to build on these positive developments by scaling up support for Africa's development priorities. We urge UNCTAD to continue its assistance to African countries through its three pillars of work, with particular emphasis on: first, building productive capacities to ensure that African countries can fully benefit from the AfCFTA; second, assisting African states in tackling illicit financial flows and enhancing domestic resource mobilization; and third, mobilizing financing for the energy and infrastructure development. The Group also calls for increased technical assistance, capacity-building programmes, and exchange of experiences, with networking among African countries and with other developing countries, in order to help Africa build the necessary resilience to address the multifaceted challenges it faces.

8. The Group of 77 and China reaffirms its unwavering commitment to Africa's development and expresses its full confidence in UNCTAD's ability to support the continent in achieving the aspirations of Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals. We look forward to continued collaboration and UNCTAD's continued impactful work in Africa.

I thank you, Madam President.