Small Island Development Trade Challenges (Research Paper Sample)

Small Island Development Trade Challenges Name Institutional Affiliation Abstract This paper explores a number of challenges facing Small Island Development Trade. According to various reports, most territories which have been classified as Small Island Developing States are facing various challenges including illegal exploitation of natural resources, natural calamities, climate change, and other factors. The main challenges facing these states are climate change which is evident with the rise in sea-levels, destruction of coral reefs, and severe cases of natural disasters that has exacerbated the states and conditions of these territories and consequently caused the displacement of populations and migration. There are also reported cases of criminal threats which include human and drug trafficking, exploitation of wildlife, and piracy. According to the United Nations (2015) reports, the Small Islands Developing states lack the resources that are required to counter the challenges facing them. Traditional notions of a peaceful and a secure nation are not applicable in these states as they face interconnected challenges. This paper will, therefore, highlight the Small Island Development Trade Challenges and provide potential solutions to these issues. Keywords: Small Island Development Trade Challenges, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Small Island Development Trade Challenges Small Island developing states (SIDS) refer to countries and territories which are mainly characterized by high vulnerability in economic, social, and geographic terms. These territories are perceived as highly vulnerable in economy and hence they tend to exhibit poor performance economically. There are 52 states and territories across the world that has been classified by the United Nations as Small Island developing States (SIDS). Most of these states are found in the Caribbean and the Pacific regions. One of the distinct features of SIDS is that it is composed of diverse groups, that is, it is made up of countries such as Bahamas and Singapore which are relatively rich as compared to the standards of developing countries, as well as the poorest countries in the world such as Comoros Islands (UNDP, 2006). All SIDS face a number of challenges in economic development and trade. The main challenge facing Small Island developing states (SIDS) is climate change and the rise of the sea-level. Climate change and the rise in sea-level have adversely affected trade in the SIDS. The significant effects of the climate change and rise in sea-level threatens the stability of the countries, leading to displacement and migration of people (USA International Business Publication, 2007). Major displacement of population will, on the other hand present a huge challenge to trade in SIDS and other parts of the world. Another challenge that plagues the small Island developing states (SIDS) is the natural and environmental disasters. Most of the SIDS are found in the most vulnerable regions in the world and, therefore, have a high frequency and intensity in occurrence of natural and environmental calamities. There frequent calamities negatively affect the economies and trade in the SIDS. For instance, the Indian Ocean earthquakes and frequent tsunamis and also the cyclones and hurricanes that took place in the recent past in the pacific and Caribbean regions affected the trade and the economies of the SIDS negatively. The Small Island developing states also face the challenge of inadequate land resources. The pressure in the lands resources in SIDS has continually increased in the recent past. The demand for land resources is due to competition in terms of usage, increasing demands, and l...