Working Group 1

RECOMMENDATIONS ON SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION

 Having considered the progress made in the implementation of the provisions of Havana Programme of Action that relates to South-South Cooperation and those of the Marrakesh Framework for the implementation of South-South cooperation:

- Reaffirms the Havana Programme of Action adopted at the First South Summit, as basis for the strengthening of South-South Cooperation and in this regard, stresses the need to continue to implement all the recommendations contained in Chapter IV of the Havana Programme of Action;

- Reaffirms, in this context, the recommendations of IFCC-X and Tehran Consensus;

- Reaffirms also the Marrakech Framework of Implementation adopted at the High Level Conference of South-South Cooperation;

- Stresses the importance of South-South Cooperation as a continuing process vital to confront the challenges faced by the South, and as a valuable contribution to development, while recognizing this cooperation as complementary to and not a substitute for North-South Cooperation;

- Recognizes the need to further explore and develop the considerable potentials for South-South cooperation at the national, regional and international levels, as well as the expansion and replication, when appropriate, of existing successful experiences and models of cooperation among countries of the South, including triangular arrangements aimed at promoting actions of cooperation in this respect;

- Reiterates the importance of strengthening the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation in order to be more responsive to the needs of developing countries;

- Welcomes with appreciation the role played by individual and groups of countries in making available funds and other types of support to enhance South-South Cooperation, in particular social and economic development of developing countries.

- Concurs that while some achievements have been reached in the field of South-South Cooperation, much remains to be done:

1. Calls for the publication of an annual report on South-South Cooperation by the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation in consultation with the Chairman of G-77.
   
2. Invites the Chairman of G-77 in collaboration with UNCTAD and other relevant institutions to submit a study on new and dynamic sectors including services and creative industries.
   
3. Invites all the parties involved to conclude the third Round of GSTP by 2006.
   
4. Encourages the elaboration by the Member States of South-South arrangements /frameworks for sectoral cooperation.
   
5. Urges Member States to contribute to the expansion of PGTF and UN Trust Fund for South-South Cooperation.
   
6. Calls for the convening of a South-South Forum on public and private partnership.
   
7. Reiterates the need to further enhance and deepen the coordination between G-77 and the Non-Aligned Movement, through the JCC, with a view to strengthen and develop South-South Cooperation.
   
8. Recommends for consideration in the preparation of the Second South Summit the issue of the G-77 Chamber of Commerce and Industry, including its mandate, performance and operating modalities, as well as its subsidiary bodies and invites the Chairman of the G-77 to submit relevant available documentation.
   
9. Recommends for consideration the outcome document of the Doha Forum on Trade and Investment in the preparatory process of the Second South Summit.
   
10. Reiterates the need to strengthen the South Centre as the research centre and think tank of the countries of the South, and in this context recommends considerations of ways and means including those related to financial aspects aimed at the achievement of this objective.
    
11. Calls for the implementation of relevant recommendations related to South-South Cooperation contained in the report of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation entitled “ A Fair Globalisation: Creating Opportunities for all” .
    
12. Calls for the strengthening of the substantive capacity of the G-77 Secretariat (office of the Chairman) through the payment by members of the Group of 77 on a regular basis and in a timely manner of their financial contributions including accumulated arrears in line with paragraph VI-2 of the Havana Programme of Action.
    
13. Recognizes the inputs and assistance of UNCTAD to G77 and encourages its Secretariat to continue its substantive support to G77.
    
14. Recognises the assistance provided by the UNDP Special Unit for South-South Cooperation for the holding of the IFCC-XI.
    
15. Supports the enhancement of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification as a development tool to address poverty, desertification and drought issues.
    
16. Notes the deliberations of the 38 th meeting of the Chairmen /Coordinators of the chapters of G-77 on the need to improve the coherence and harmony of the overall policy adopted by the Ministers of Finance and Ministers of Foreign Affairs regarding monetary and financial issues.
    
17. Establishes, in line with the Marrakesh decision, an open ended Intergovernmental Study Group to hold a workshop in New York, on the Trade and Development Bank in May 2005, and to report to the second South Summit in June 2005, in Doha, Qatar.
    
18. Recommends the implementation of the decision of the First South Summit on the need for the G-77 to strengthen cooperation in monetary and financial fields.
    
19. Reaffirms the relevance of the Action Committee on Raw Materials (ACRM), which was established at the sixth meeting of the Intergovernmental Follow-Up Coordination Committee on Economic Cooperation among Developing Countries held in Havana, Cuba from 7-12 Sept. 1987 and in this regard calls on member countries to support and participate in the activities of the ACRM. Further calls on member countries to take steps to strengthen the existing secretariat of the ACRM in Abuja, Nigeria through the provision of adequate financial and material resources. Also, further calls for the establishment of the Regional Raw Materials Information System for Africa (RMIS).
    
20. Welcomes the implementation of the South-South Healthcare Delivery Programme (SSHDP) with its headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, which has produced positive results in recipient countries and calls for more cooperation and expansion of the donor as well as recipient base of the programme. Further calls for the strengthening of the secretariat of the SSHDP to enhance its effectiveness and qualitative service delivery.
    
21. Recommends for the consideration of the preparatory process of the Second South Summit the following issues: expansion of arrangements such as lines of credit to enhance South-South Trade as well as technical cooperation arrangements based on the practices of developing countries; greater coordination amongst the South institutions including through network linkages.
    
22. Emphasises the need to strengthen unity and solidarity among developing countries and calls for an urgent implementation of cooperation arrangements.
    
23. Stresses the need in line with Havana Programme of Action to intensify bilateral, sub-regional and inter-regional cooperation among developing countries in all fields.
    
24. Requests the Chairman of G-77 assisted by the Member States, to provide background papers on afore-mentioned proposals as appropriate for consideration by the group.