The MDGs are an integral part of UNCTAD work on competition law and policy. Our approach to the formulation and enforcement of competition and consumer protection laws seeks to ensure that markets are pro-poor and that the efficient allocation and use of resources lead to the alleviation of poverty in developing countries and economies in transition.
In this context, UNCTAD organized several training programme conferences and presented studies on the interface between competition policy and development during the transition to market economies.
Most of the countries with economies in transition that benefited from these activities have the main MDGs high among their development objectives. However, they face challenges in the design and implementation of appropriate competition law and policy in maximizing their benefits from trade liberalization and ensuring that the poor are not further marginalized in the transition to market economies.
UNCTAD activities seek to provide for the exchange of best practices among the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and other countries, as well as disseminating the results of research carried out by UNCTAD on the interface between competition law and policy and development.