Covid-19 impact on ICT trade highlighted

Geneva, Apr 3 (Prensa Latina) Restrictions imposed to curb the Covid-19 impact are today boosting the information and communications technologies (ICT) trade, as reported by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

April 3, 2021
09:47

According to UNCTAD, world ICT goods imports in 2019 shrank 3% compared to the previous year.

But preliminary data for 2020 from Germany, China (Hong Kong) and the United States, three large economies from different regions, show trade growth signs, even a global economic activity fall was perceived as the result of the Covid-19 pandemic, UNCTAD said.

‘The pandemic has impacted on digitization, which may have resulted in a significant growth in ICT goods trade despite 2020´s stern economic activity downturn,’ said Shamika N. Sirimanne, UNCTAD´s Director of Technology and Logistics.

The research added that most regions experienced declines in the ICT goods imports and exports in 2019, where steepest downfalls were seen in least developed countries.

ICT goods exports, on the other hand, are geographically highly concentrated, with East and Southeast Asia – led by China – account for three-quarters of the total.

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