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The organizations goals are to "maximize the trade, investment and development opportunities of developing countries and assist them in their efforts to integrate into the world economy on an equitable basis." (from official website).
Currently, UNCTAD has 191 member States and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Its Secretary-General (as of May 2004) is Rubens Ricupero ( Brazil). UNCTAD has 400 staff members and an annual budget of US$ 69 million a year.
Because the UNCTAD often fail to reach decisions, critics sometimes say UNCTAD means "Under No Circumstances Take Any Decision".