The UAE and the World Economic Forum issued in Davos the third edition of the Trade Technology Report

The UAE announced the release of the third edition of the Trade Technology Report, which focuses on the role of advanced technologies in enabling more efficient and flexible global supply chains.
The report is one of the pillars of the TradeTech initiative, which was launched in Davos in 2023 in partnership between the UAE, represented by the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the Department of Economic Development – Abu Dhabi, and the World Economic Forum.
The report is titled “The Trade Technology Paradox: Interconnectedness Amid Dividedness,” as it presents the concept of the “Trade Technology Architecture,” which is an integrated framework in which countries, regulators, and companies participate to promote a smarter, more comprehensive, and more efficient global trading system.
The report was officially announced during the World Economic Forum in Davos, where the Minister of Foreign Trade, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, delivered a keynote speech in a key session entitled “Reprogramming Trade,” noting that the report’s findings highlight the need for collective thinking to ensure that advanced technologies are fully adopted across the global trade community.
He said: “Integrating technology into supply chains will lead to a new era of trade flexibility, accelerating the movement of goods and enhancing the participation of emerging markets in the global economy.”
He added: “The third Trade Technology Report provides a comprehensive view of the areas where technology is making a tangible impact, supported by real-life examples of the transformation taking place. While it showcases the great potential of a technology-enabled trade landscape, it also highlights the challenges that stand in the way of widespread adoption of these technologies, challenges that we must all work to overcome in order to maintain the prosperity of the global economy. It is an important assessment of the current situation and what the world needs to continue building a trading system that keeps pace with the requirements of the 21st century.”
For his part, Chairman of the Department of Economic Development – Abu Dhabi, Ahmed Jassim Al Zaabi, said: “We believe that the Trade Technology Initiative has been an essential element in modernizing global trade, which is the lifeblood of economies, since its launch in 2023. Over the past three years, this joint initiative has demonstrated the benefits of constructive cooperation and integrated work in developing and employing advanced technologies and modern methods to enable free and fair trade that enriches societies around the world.”
Al Zaabi added: “As an important hub in international supply chains, Abu Dhabi continues to develop the foreign trade system and make it faster, more reliable and more flexible, through strong partnerships between the government and the business community. We affirm our commitment to supporting trade technology initiatives to drive innovation and develop global trade in a way that enhances efficiency and sustainability.”
For his part, CEO and President of the World Economic Forum, Borg Brende, said: “In a phase characterized by rapid global changes, technology has become the infrastructure that connects the elements of modern trade, as it helps economies and companies maintain continuity by improving coordination and efficiency and enhancing confidence in cross-border operations.”
The report identifies four main levels within the trade technology architecture: the basic global framework established by institutions such as the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, and UNCTAD. The level of national governance, where policies and regulations are integrated to enable markets to cooperate. The level of trade enablers, which includes logistics companies, centers and trade hubs. The institutional level includes producers, manufacturers, and exporters who provide traded goods and services.
The levels of the trade technology architecture are linked together through technology, which acts as a unifying fabric for the trade system, bringing together various parties within and across these levels in a more efficient and flexible manner.
The report monitors how advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain have begun to replace traditional human-based processes and become integrated into multiple stages of global supply chains, from customs to logistics solutions to cross-border payment platforms.
The Global Trade Technology Initiative was launched three years ago following the partnership between the UAE and the World Economic Forum, with the aim of supporting and accelerating the adoption of technology in international trade. The initiative continues annually to issue a comprehensive report that highlights the latest technologies and the global trading system.