UNCTAD Promotes Traceability Innovation for Resilience & Fair Trade in the Global South

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Institutions: Ministry of Commerce and Industry | Ministry of MSME

UNCTAD highlights how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries are using digital traceability tools - not only high-end tech - to ensure compliance, access premium export markets, and reduce waste. The SMEP programme, which is supported by UNCTAD and UK DFID, is piloting enzyme-based methods in tanneries in Bangladesh and Ethiopia, logging hide production journeys digitally to meet environmental and buyer standards. Similar traceability solutions are being tested in textile waste recycling (Pakistan) and plastic waste hubs run by women and youth (Nigeria). These approaches support circular production, environmental monitoring, and fair-trade benefit.

This reframes “innovation” beyond complex tech toward locally adapted, incremental innovations in supply chains. For countries like India, there’s a clear opportunity to deploy traceability in sectors like leather, textiles, agriculture, and waste - enhancing export competitiveness and sustainability

Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can Indian trade, industry, and standards bodies partner with SMEs to scale cost-effective traceability systems, align them with export compliance regimes, and embed them in national sustainable trade strategy?

Follow the full news here: https://unctad.org/news/innovation-beyond-high-tech-traceability-resilience-and-fair-trade-global-south

---