On June 24, 2026, the Global Alliance for Trade in Services (hereinafter referred to as GATIS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (hereinafter referred to as UNCTAD). The two parties agreed to build an institutionalized partnership and co-host the "Global Development Roundtable on Trade in Services" (hereinafter referred to as the "Roundtable") starting from 2026.
This event represents the deepening and upgrading of bilateral cooperation between the two sides. In 2025, UNCTAD took part in `the preparation and hosting of the Roundtable as a supporting institution, laying a solid foundation of mutual trust between the two sides in agenda formulation, guest invitation, and other relevant areas. Following the signing ceremony, GATIS and UNCTAD will act as joint hosts. This marks a transformation of their cooperation from "one-off project support" to "joint construction of long-term mechanisms". The MoU is the second institutional cooperation document concluded between GATIS and a UN agency, following the Letter of Intent on Cooperation signed with the International Trade Centre (ITC) in April 2025, demonstrating the continuous deepening of GATIS's efforts to expand its global partnership network.
Upon the inclusion of UNCTAD, a new framework of the Roundtable, co-hosted by GATIS, UNCTAD, and ITC, was officially established. As the international cooperation organization of the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), GATIS maintains close coordination with UNCTAD and ITC, with the three organizations playing complementary roles. They have not only mobilized policy resources and global networks within the UN system, but also established a new cross-border and cross-institutional high-level dialogue mechanism for trade in services on the international public platform of CIFTIS.
According to the MoU, the two sides will strengthen cooperation in information sharing and event support, in addition to jointly hosting the Roundtable on an institutionalized basis. Leveraging the annual CIFTIS, the three hosts of the Roundtable will focus on key issues, including the digital and intelligent transformation of trade in services and trade facilitation, so as to offer a constructive exchange platform to discuss industry development paths and tackle common challenges.
Furthermore, GATIS will deepen exchanges and cooperation with the UN system and relevant international organizations and work to advance the sustainable development of global trade in services.
