STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA, BY MR. PETER LE ROUX, COUNSELLOR, PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 57: ERADICATION OF POVERTY AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT ISSUES IN THE SECOND COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (New York, 10 November 2006)

Madame Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the G77 and China on agenda item 57 on the "Eradication of poverty and other development issues." The consideration of this item is of particular importance to the Group of 77 and China as it presents a unique opportunity for the international community to seriously address the issue of poverty eradication. We therefore wish to thank the Secretary General for the very useful reports which have been provided to guide our deliberations.

Madame Chair,

The eradication of poverty is the greatest global challenge facing the world today and is an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, in particular in developing countries For this reason, we see merit in undertaking a more fundamental approach to ridding mankind of the scourge of poverty and its crippling effect on the most vulnerable, namely women and children, in society.

It is therefore imperative that we tackle poverty in a more fundamental manner which would include a more comprehensive and simultaneous consideration of such issues as the provision of adequate resources for enterprise development as well as promoting more development-friendly policies in the areas of international trade and monetary and fiscal policies. We continue to look to our more developed partners to take the lead in this regard.

Against this background, we are pleased to note the successful convening of the International Year of Microcredit as well as the successful Observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Both events were critical to raising awareness about the continued need for more concerted action at all levels in order to realise any real progress in advancing the goal of poverty eradication.

The G77 and China will therefore table resolutions on both issues in an attempt to maintain the momentum generated by these events. Additionally and as part of the broader objective of poverty eradication, we propose that the General Assembly proclaims a Second Decade for the Eradication of Poverty from 2007-2016.

We believe that this will be critical to ensuring that developing countries are able to achieve the MDGs and the other internationally agreed development goals within the required timeframes. It would also be in keeping with the fundamental leadership role of the UN in promoting international cooperation and the global partnership for development which is critical to eradicating poverty.

Madame Chair,

I would also wish to make some brief comments on the sub-item related to industrial development cooperation. For the G77 and China, industrialization remains an essential factor in the sustained economic growth, sustainable development and eradication of poverty in developing countries, as well as in the creation of productive employment, income generation and the facilitation of social integration, including the integration of women into the development process.

We therefore wish to underscore the critical role of productive capacity-building and industrial development for the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the MDGs, and call upon the wider international community to lend its full support towards attaining this objective.

I thank you