Trade and Economic Development
GEA, Trade and Economic Development
A country’s economic growth and prosperity are typically linked to growth in international trade.
Global trade has increased manifold since the express industry started in the 1960s, driven by factors such as the gradual removal of trade barriers, globalisation, increased country specialisation, better global communications and a more favourable political background.
Despite the financial crisis, express delivery continued to grow about 7% annually between 2009 and 2014. Between 2011 and 2022, the number of international express shipments containing goods more than doubled.
However, restrictions on express services in many such markets still limit the ability of local business to access global markets. The GEA supports the efforts of the WTO and its member States to remove barriers to trade, which would encourage increased trade, investment and productivity, and boost GDP, employment and government finances.