Introductory Call with Director of DITC, UNCTAD
14 May 2025, Amsterdam. A virtual introductory meeting was held between Ms. Luz Maria de la Mora, Director of UNCTAD's Division on International Trade and Commodities (DITC) since July 2024, and Amb. Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Managing Director of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC). The meeting provided an opportunity to explore areas of mutual interest and potential collaboration in efforts to alleviate poverty and promote sustainable development.
Ms. de la Mora was accompanied by Mr. Rodrigo Cárcamo Díaz, Chief (a.i.) of the Commodities Policy Implementation Section, and Mr. Rémi Lang, Senior Economic Affairs Officer at DITC. Amb. Belal was joined by Mr. Andrey Kuleshov, Chief of Strategy and Development of CFC.
The discussions underscored the historical ties between UNCTAD and CFC, with Amb. Belal noting that the CFC owes its existence to a UNCTAD-led process. The Integrated Programme for Commodities (IPC), approved by consensus during UNCTAD IV, serves as the umbilical cord binding the two institutions. Amb. Belal emphasized that the IPC was conceived to "make commodities work for all"—a vision that remains unfulfilled today. He called for UNCTAD’s renewed attention to this goal, urging closer collaboration with stakeholders, including international commodity bodies (ICBs).
To foster broader coordination, CFC proposed hosting an annual flagship event bringing together UNCTAD, CFC, ICBs, and private-sector commodity businesses. This initiative aims not only to strengthen stakeholder alignment but also to engage the private sector in driving positive impact through responsible commodity trade.
The discussions also focused on enhancing the multilateral trading system, moving beyond internal national reforms. Both parties stressed the need for more equitable trade structures and explored joint efforts to improve traceability in commodity supply chains, strengthen value addition, and boost farmer incomes.
Additionally, the meeting highlighted the importance of reliable and transparent data to better understand the disparities between farmgate and consumer prices. The dynamics between commodity and financial markets—particularly their impact on Least Developed Countries (LDCs)—were also examined.
Both sides expressed their commitment to sustained engagement, with plans to revisit these issues in the near future and identify concrete areas of collaboration.
Looking Ahead to UNCTAD XVI, CFC hopes to see its contributions—particularly its flagship concept of humanizing value chains—duly acknowledged and discussed during UNCTAD XVI in Vietnam.
For media inquiries, please contact:
[CFC Media Relations Team]
[Email: managing.director@common-fund.org]
[Phone: +31 20 575 4949]