Trade and Development Report 2026

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India’s share in global greenfield investments during 2020-25, at 5.7%, is more than double China’s share in such investments during the same period, according to the latest Trade and Development Report 2026 report by UNCTAD.

About Trade and Development Report 

• First launched in 1981, it is issued every year by the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
• The report analyses current economic trends and major policy issues of international concern and makes suggestions for addressing these issues at various levels.

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Trade and Development Report 2026 Highlights

• Global trade is projected to grow by 4% in 2026, slower than the previous year’s 4.4%, but well above what was anticipated when the conflict in the Middle East began.
• Global trade reached a record $35 trillion in 2025.
• The report indicates higher trade values resulting from energy price increases and export controls.
• While trade between China and the US has fallen by more than 20% since 2024, East Asia has expanded trade with both China and North America.
• Developing economies, particularly India, are expected to drive notable growth despite overall global economic slowdowns.
• Global economic growth will likely slow to 2.6% in 2026, down from 2.9% last year, but developing economies are projected to grow 4% this year, down from 4.7% in 2025.
• Asia is projected to contribute 59% of global growth in 2026.
• The report showed that governments increasingly use industrial, trade, financial, and technology policies to pursue economic and national security objectives.
• Artificial intelligence products, comprising advanced computing equipment deployed primarily in new data centres, have become the main driver of merchandise trade; 82% of value added accrues to four supplier segments in this category.
• From 2020 to 2025, strategic sectors grew from 16% to 44% of global greenfield investment.
  • Among these strategic sectors, artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and related technologies attracted the largest share of 12.4% of the $845.7 billion of overall global greenfield investment that took place within this period. 
  • AI infrastructure was followed by the semiconductor value chain (8.1%) and energy transition technologies and services (7.8%). 
• Strategic investment is concentrated in Europe (28.4%) and North America (28%). Even among developing economies, capital is primarily funnelled into developing Asia (26.5%) with China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore as leading jurisdictions for new investments.
• India Specific Findings:
  • India accounted for 5.7% of global greenfield investments during 2020 to 2025, followed by Malaysia (4%), Indonesia (3.8%), and China (2.8%). 
  • India ranks high in terms of the number of industrial policies it has implemented over the last two decades or so. 
  • During 2008-21, India implemented 1,416 industrial policies, behind only China (4,201) and the U.S. (4,025) 
  • In the much shorter period 2022-25, data shows India implemented 707 industrial policy measures, about half the number it did in the 2008-21 period.  It fell in the rankings during this period, with the U.S., China, Australia, and Brazil all implementing more industrial policies than India did. 
  • India is the fastest-growing major economy, with GDP projected to expand by 7.3% in 2026 and 6.8% in 2027 due to robust domestic demand, increasing manufacturing capacity, and public infrastructure programmes. 
  • It added that these factors are together sustaining growth despite India’s heavy reliance on oil imports.
  • India continues to post dynamic growth in household consumption, estimated at 6.9% this year and 5.6% next.

News:TH