Barbados hosts Global Supply Chain Forum

Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

#Barbados, June 7, 2024 – The United Nations (UN) Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, was in Barbados to open the inaugural Global Supply Chain Forum, alongside Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Rebeca Grynspan, the Secretary-General of UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric who made the disclosure at a recent briefing, said the forum which runs from May 21 to 24, brings together industry leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss policies that can support the global supply chain management in the face of increasingly frequent supply chain shocks, and the future of global trade.

“More than 60 sessions will take place during the four-day event, bringing together Government ministers, international organizations, academia and business leaders across transport, trade, logistics and supply chain management,” she said

The discussions will revolve around priority issues related to financing, trade facilitation, transport connectivity, digitalization and technology, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and disaster risk reduction.

Resilience and sustainability are toping the forum’s agenda, against the backdrop of geopolitical and climate-related challenges increasingly shifting trade patterns and reconfiguring supply chains.

It seeks to tackle the unique challenges facing small island developing states, and landlocked developing countries. Far from the main lines of trade, the economies are particularly vulnerable to supply chain disruptions.

The forum will help unpack the opportunities and challenges for climate change adaptation in transport and trade logistics, with a special focus on seaports which are key to facilitating over 80% of global merchandise trade.

The gathering in Barbados will highlight emerging technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things as well as cutting-edge digital innovations to ease trade.

It will take stock of how digitalization and automation reshape cross-border trade processes, enhance efficiency and accessibility, while improving regulatory compliance.