Services, trade and development

The services sector plays an increasingly vital role in the global economy, driving income generation, growth, productivity, employment, investment, and trade. For developing economies, services can provide an opportunity for structural transformation and sustainable development.

A major trend reshaping global trade is servicification, the growing use of services as inputs in manufacturing and other sectors. From logistics and finance to design and digital platforms, services are essential to competitiveness and value creation across global value chains.

The rapid rise of digital trade in services is further accelerating this transformation. Digitalization is lowering barriers to entry, enabling new business models, and expanding global reach for service providers, including small and medium-sized enterprises in developing economies.

Services are also central to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, offering solutions for inclusive growth, gender equality, and climate resilience.

UNCTAD supports countries in strengthening their domestic services sectors by enhancing linkages with agriculture, industry, other services and trade. Trade in services represents a new frontier for economic diversification, deeper integration into the global economy and greater development gains.

Moreover, the resilience of digitally deliverable services trade during recent global crises underscores the importance of incorporating services into national trade and growth strategies. Through data, policy advice, and capacity-building UNCTAD helps countries harness the full potential of services for inclusive and sustainable development.