Unctad appoints its first female secretary general

Rebeca Grynspan is also the first central American to head UN’s trade and development body

Rebeca Grynspan from Costa Rica held several high-level positions prior to becoming Unctad's new secretary general. AFP

The United Nations appointed Rebeca Grynspan from Costa Rica on Saturday as the new secretary general of its trade and development body, Unctad.

Ms Grynspan is the first woman and central American to head the global body that deals with trade, investment and development issues, the Unctad said in a statement.

“I look forward to bringing my experience and commitment to development to this unique organisation, whose history, mandate and recognised world-class expertise make it a key partner for all countries facing the challenges of post pandemic recovery,” Ms Grynspan said.

The appointment comes as the global trade charts a gradual recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, which tipped the world’s economy into the deepest recession since the 1930s.

But stimulus measures and an accelerated pace of vaccine rollout in many countries are improving the economic outlook. Global trade grew by 10 per cent in the first quarter of 2021, driven by strong exports from East Asian economies, Unctad said last month. It is set to increase by 8 per cent this year, according to the World Trade Organisation.

Ms Grynspan has previously held several high-level positions such as the under-secretary-general of the United Nations and Associate Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

She has also served as the UNDP regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean as well as the vice president of Costa Rica from 1994 to 1998.

“At this critical time Unctad can make an essential contribution for a more just, sustainable and inclusive recovery for all,” Ms Grynspan said.

The Geneva-based UN body will also organise an investment forum in Abu Dhabi later this year to explore ways for countries to sustainably recover from the pandemic.

The World Investment Forum, which will be held in the UAE capital from October 17 to 21, is the largest global platform focusing on investment development. The previous event in 2018, held in Geneva, attracted 6,600 participants from 150 countries including key decision-makers in the government and the private sector.