Trade integration provides many development opportunities, but its benefit for sustainable development is not automatic. Understanding and managing the risks that come with trade openness is not straightforward. It requires at least a conceptual understanding of the linkages between trade and sustainable development—both the opportunities it creates, and the threats that it poses. This workshop aims to enhance the general public and policymakers' understanding of the relationship between trade and SDGs. It gives a broad perspective on trade's enabling and disenabling roles in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This year’s workshop will explore these connections with particular focus on the specific issue of the future of export-oriented industrialization. For more than fifty years, sustained rapid growth in the developing world has been keyed to the expansion of manufacturing industries selling into global markets. More recently, lower costs of trade, transport and international coordination facilitated the diffusion of the global manufacturing value chain (GMVC) across national borders, further enhancing opportunities for economic growth led by export-oriented manufacturing. However, “geoeconomics” (the reconfiguration of trading relationships to achieve national political and economic goals) is experiencing a resurgence and as a result, the system that supported GMVC expansion now faces threats from protectionist and mercantilist policies, as well as diminished global trade governance. In parallel, labor-saving innovations such as robotics and embedded AI tools are increasingly eroding the commercial logic of outsourcing tasks within the GMVC to labor-abundant emerging economies. As this new era unfolds, does the pathway to middle-income still run reliably through manufacturing exports? If so, what measures will ensure success? If not, what alternatives exist? The thematic session will discuss SDG progress in light of these issues.

17 September - 1 November 2026

The workshop includes 15 pre-recorded modules (approximately 15 minutes each), readings, and online quizzes to be completed over a two-week period. Three live sessions, each lasting 60 to 90 minutes, will be held for deeper discussions with the course facilitator and distinguished guest experts. You can find the course programme under the ‘DOCUMENTS’ tab of the event page.

First live session: 18 September 2026, 14:00-15:00 hrs (UTC+7)

This session offers participants an opportunity to discuss course materials and their practical applications with the course facilitator. Participants are expected to complete at least the four introductory "A" modules before attending the first session on 18 September.

Second live session: 25 September 2026, 14:00-15:15 hrs (UTC+7)

This session will make participants familiar with the thematic subject of this year’s workshop by introducing relevant course materials and other resources. Participants should continue studying the online video modules and complete modules B and C before attending the second session on 25 September.

Third live session: 28 September 2026, 14:00-15:30 hrs (UTC+7)

This session will feature a thematic discussion, allowing participants to broaden their perspectives and apply conceptual knowledge to real-world issues. This year’s theme will focus on the future of export-oriented manufacturing. Participants should have completed all course modules including advanced topics under D1 before attending the third session on 28 September.

Certificate and requirements

UN-ESCAP and IDE-JETRO will issue an e-certificate for your successful completion of all mandatory modules (A, B, C). Successful completion requires 1) attending ALL live sessions, 2) submitting the workshop feedback online survey, and 3) passing all module quizzes with at least 75% before 1 November 2026.

Those who met these requirements will receive an e-certificate sent by email within 30 days after the quiz deadline (1 December 2026).

Please see the UNESCAP website for detailed program:

Please register by 17 September 2026 at REGISTER to the WORKSHOP
(Late registration may be accepted by 27 September.)

English

UN-ESCAP, IDE-JETRO

Free

Professor Ian Coxhead, Senior Research Fellow, IDE-JETRO

To access the self-learning materials, please CLICK here.