The Second Meeting of theGroup of Landlocked Developing Countriesat the Ambassadorial level
5 March 2020, UNHQ, CR7, 15.00-16.30
Distinguished Colleagues,
I am glad to welcome you today at the Second 2020 Ambassadorial Meeting of the LLDCs Group.
We have before us a draft agenda for the meeting. The first item is the adoption of the Agenda. I therefore invite you to consider and adopt it.
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I thank you for the adoption of the Agenda which demonstrates our convergence of ideas amongst us. I now would like to brief you on the main outcomes of my last month visit to Geneva, which took place on 5-6 February, in my capacity of the Chair of our Group.
On February 5, at the opening of the 69th executive session of the UNCTAD Trade and Development Board on behalf of the Group, I emphasized that half of 32 LLDCs are also the least developed countries. At the same time, I noted that all three groups of vulnerable countries (LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS), comprising 91 countries, equally need the support of the Organization so that they can achieve the SDGs by 2030.
At the same time, I called on the UNCTAD Secretariat and the Member States to reconsider the approach to overcoming the challenges of these countries through the understanding that many challenges and threats are of cross-border nature. Such a new approach should be based on the expansion of regional cooperation, interaction and greater coherence of actions.
During those two days, I have had bilateral meetings with the leadership of UN agencies based in Geneva, including UNCTAD, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the International Trade Center (ITC) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) in order to present the main priorities of the Kazakhstan Chairmanship and discuss the substantive participation of these agencies in assisting LLDCs in overcoming the relevant development challenges.
- In general, I was re-assured in those agencies´ full commitment to support our Group in promoting the main interests of LLDCs, including through participation in interactive dialogues with the Group Member States throughout these two years.
In particular, the emphasis was placed on explaining to the agencies that we are to find practical solutions for LLDCs if we intend to implementing the provisions of the Vienna Programme and Agenda 2030, as well as establishing synergies in the work of these agencies in order to avoid duplication in their activities.
- Additionally during the visit I have discussed with the leadership of UNCTAD and ITC, the possibility of organizing (in collaboration with the UN-OHRLLS and the World Bank) within the framework of the WTO Ministerial Conference a joint side event or session on trade and transit facilitation involving both LLDCs, transit countries and developed countries, as well as private sector. This should aim at discussing joint practical steps for resolving regional development issues. In particular, it is possible to organize such an event on 7 June as a part of the Ministerial Meeting of the LLDCs on Trade.
- During the visit I have also met with Ambassador of Paraguay, Afghanistan and Mongolia. It was proposed to include one LLDCs related paragraph into the outcome document of the WTO MC12 with the reference to the need for collaboration on TFA and the establishment of an informal LLDC Group within the WTO. Such a paragraph could possibly be included in the text of the WTO MC outcome document based on the Ministerial Declaration of the LLDCs Ministerial meeting on Trade to be convened on 7 June.
- During the meeting with the International Trade Centre Executive Director a.i. Ms. Dorothy Tembo we have discussed the vast ITC´s experience in actively helping LLDCs to build strategic partnerships in the field of trade facilitation and strengthening the capabilities of the private sector, especially at the level of small and medium-sized businesses. She was mentioning that on the African continent alone, ITC has implemented over 40 practical projects to increase production capabilities over the past years.
In this context we consider it could be interesting to elaborate further on the cooperation between LLDCs and ITC. Ms. Dorothy Tembo has assured me that ITC will be highly committed to participating in the Group's interactive dialogues. As a practical follow-up we are planning to convene an interactive dialogue with ITC together with the International Chamber of Commerce on 26 March in the afternoon.
- Finally, back in January and in Geneva I was assured by the UN agencies that our Group could request them to prepare a Roadmap or a visionary document on what practical steps we could take to implement the Vienna Programme of Action and the Decade of Actions.
In this light, I would like to consult with you if the Group should ask the Secretary-General to consider this possibility of the UN-OHRLLS together with UNCTAD, World Bank, International Trade Centre, DESA and other important agencies preparing such a document.
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SECOND PART OF THE MEETING
Dear Secretary-General,
Under-Secretary-General Madam Utoikamanu,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
We are highly honoured to have the presence of our very esteemed Secretary-General António Guterres. I thank him for addressing this Group with his vision and pragmatic strategy for the future. We can be truly reassured that he will serve as our guide and mentor throughout this term.
The objective of our meeting today is to share our main priorities of LLDCs in this Decade of Action with the Secretary-General. I look forward to your inputs and comments in a spirit of shared leadership and responsibility.
I will now proceed to give my opening remarks and brief the Secretary-General on the key priorities of the Group.
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Dear colleagues,
The 32 Landlocked Developing Countries, with a combined population of around 509 million, still face special challenges related to our geographical remoteness, lack of direct access to the sea and isolation from the world trade and economic opportunities. We also have inadequate infrastructure, cumbersome border crossing procedures, as well as structural deficiencies. These are further compounded by limited capacities to deal with external shocks. All of us are perfectly aware of these disadvantages that lie ahead of us. It is obvious that because of them, the LLDCs continue to be vulnerable with limited capacities and dependence on very restricted commodities for exports.
This is further aggravated by climate change threats such as land degradation, water resources scarcity, glaciers melting. Meanwhile we still need to raise the international awareness, including in the UN system for all these issues.
As we have recently completed the Midterm Review of the Vienna Programme of Action last December, assessments clearly indicate that progress in the last five years was not sufficient to meet the objectives of VPoA or to achieve the SDGs by 2030.
We find that while UN projects are developed on individual country-specific basis, the numerous challenges are transboundary in nature. The modern world of intense globalization and deep mutual integration requires finding new approaches in settling the international issues, including on the regional and interregional basis.
This could be promoted by meaningful collaboration among the LLDCs, and between LLDCs and transit developing countries.
Hence, this 75th anniversary year, which is significant for the UN family, should become a turning point for an enhanced global dialogue. This without any question should result in concrete actions and outcomes to reach Agenda 2030. In this respect, we support you, Secretary-General, in your tireless efforts in promoting the multilateral approach in promoting the UN Reform. In the end, its main goal is to provide necessary assistance to developing countries to make them more sustainable.
Based on the previous discussions in New York as well as the outcomes of my meetings in Geneva, different UN agencies are ready to prepare a Roadmap or visionary document on what practical steps we could take to implement the Vienna Programme of Action and the Decade of Action.
In this light, on behalf of the Group I would like to request the Secretary-General to consider this possibility of the UN-OHRLLS together with UNCTAD, World Bank, International Trade Centre, DESA and other important stakeholders preparing such a document. These practical deliverables could lay out the path for us to overcome the long existing challenges.
I also wish to acknowledge with warmest appreciation the work of H.E. Madam Utoikamanu, High Representative for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS and her staff for their commitment, and appeal to endow this office with all possible resources to more effectively implement its mandate of supporting the LLDCs.
With this, let me proceed to Agenda Item 3 and give the floor to our Secretary-General.
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I thank His Excellency for his remarks and sincere words of encouragement and support for the Group. On behalf of the Group of LLDCs, I reiterate our deepest appreciation for your solidarity with us. I assure you of the full cooperation and collaboration of the Group in these endeavors for your vision of the United Nations.
We now move to Agenda Item 4, and I open the floor for an interactive dialogue between us and the Secretary-General.
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As a follow-up to this meeting we will be grateful if the Secretary-General will continue participating in such meetings on a regular basis in the future with our Group.
I want to once again express our deep gratitude to the Secretary-General for the privilege he has given us by his solidarity with our Group. We know that his enduring commitment means much to us.
Now moving further to Agenda Item 5, I would like to open the floor for any follow-up comments or any other business for discussion.
(Conclusion)
I thank all delegations for your attendance and most relevant inputs, which my colleagues have taken note of. We will circulate the summary report of this meeting in due course.
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The meeting is adjourned.
