GROUP OF 77
GENEVA
STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY MR. DIEGO AULESTIA VALENCIA, AMBASSADOR AND PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF ECUADOR, CHAIRMAN OF THE GROUP OF 77, AT THE SIXTY-SIXTH SESSION OF THE TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD ON AGENDA ITEM 6 - CONTRIBUTION OF UNCTAD TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAMME OF ACTION FOR THE LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES FOR THE DECADE 2011-2020
(Geneva, 27 June 2019)
Mr. President, H.E Mr. Michael Gaffey (Ireland),
Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD, Ms. Isabelle Durant,
Director of the Division for Africa, LDCs and Special Programmes, Mr. Paul Akiwumi,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. The Group of 77 and China would like to congratulate the UNCTAD Secretariat, particularly the Division for Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes for the efforts made in the framework of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020.
2. We would like to stress our recognition for the analysis and policy recommendations the Division has worked on. The articulation of the analytical work with the technical cooperation activities is particularly remarkable.
3. The Group of 77 and China urges member states to fulfil commitments related to Official Development Assistance (ODA) as mentioned in the SDG 17 target 2, Istanbul Programme of Action and the Addis Abba Action Agenda.
4. The Group of 77 and China expresses its concern regarding the risks associated with commodity dependence. Even though, UNCTAD has recently stated in its publication Selected sustainable development trends in the least developed countries that the economic growth prospect for LDCs until 2020 is positive, it is below their target. Moreover, this growth depends on the highly volatile prices of commodities.
5. Another problem related to commodity dependence is its relation to debt crises. In this regard, we would like to emphasize our recognition of the contribution of UNCTAD in the debates regarding debt in multilateral forums.
6. The Group of 77 and China recognizes the importance of diversification and structural transformation of the LDCs’ economies. Despite the efforts made in this field, objectives are not being attained. More has to be done not only to finally accomplish graduations from the LDC category but also to maintain a steady economic growth that encompasses with the SDG and Agenda 2030 goals.
7. The group of 77 and China regrets UNCTAD was excluded from the draft of the annual resolution ECOSOC discussion on the “Implementation of and follow-up to major United Nations conferences and summits: review and coordination of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011–2020”. As member states we assume our responsibility on this omission, however, we recognize as well the crucial role secretariats of multilateral organizations play in political visibility of their work. In this respect, the Group of G77 and China will highly appreciate UNCTAD’s office in New York take the lead in adequately positioning UNCTAD contributions within the UN system.
8. In agreement with the recommendations by the Secretariat in the Note “Contribution of UNCTAD to the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011–2020” the Group of 77 and China:
(a) Expresses its concern at the lack of progress in achieving the overarching goals of the Istanbul Programme of Action to meet the structural challenges faced by LDCs in eradicating poverty, achieving internationally agreed development goals and enabling graduation from the LDC category;
(b) Urges UNCTAD to strengthen its work in assisting LDCs in the pursuit of the goals and targets of the Programme, as well as other internationally agreed development goals, including those set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
(c) Appeals to all donors and other countries in a position to do so to contribute to the Trust Fund for the Least Developed Countries to enable UNCTAD to respond to the strong increase in demand for technical assistance by LDCs; and
(d) Requests UNCTAD to actively support LDCs in the preparatory process leading to the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries and in the discussions and deliberations related thereto.
9. Interagency mechanisms are already working in preparations for UN LDC V. In this regard UNCTAD should have its rightful place in line with its substantive role and contribution foreseen in paragraph 156 of the Istanbul Programme of Action and the Nairobi Maafikiano. The Group of 77 and China urges the Secretariat to grant appropriate priority to this issue and requests to submit this message to UNCTAD’s office in New York.
10. The Group of 77 and China requests the office of UNCTAD in New York to develop stronger actions in positioning the work of the Secretariat.
Thank you.