Sevilla, Spain
Buenos días,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Dear Colleagues,
It is an honour to be with you this morning for this symbolic flag-raising ceremony.
I extend my deepest gratitude to the Government of Spain for welcoming the international community to this remarkable city. Your leadership and exemplary support have been instrumental in convening this Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development.
It was exactly last June when the first UN Planning mission came to visit Sevilla, we were all deeply impressed by your enthusiasm, dedication and spirit of cooperation. Throughout the whole year of preparation, you delivered what you promised to the UN.
Excellencies, dear colleagues,
My sincere appreciation goes to the people of Sevilla, as well as to the Spanish police, security officers, firefighters, civil servants, and all the dedicated local staff and volunteers – your efforts have made this gathering possible.
The Sustainable Development Goals are our collective promise for a world where no one is left behind.
But this promise cannot be fulfilled on commitment alone — it requires financing. The lack of equitable access to finance for sustainable development is not just a challenge for individual countries alone. It is a global challenge that affects us all.
As we gather for FFD4, we must remain focused on our shared objective: ensuring all countries have fair and equitable access to the resources they need to build a better future for their people.
The next four days are a critical opportunity to demonstrate that multilateralism can deliver concrete solutions to transform lives – with inclusive engagement and solidarity.
Excellencies,
Distinguished Participants,
Throughout the preparatory process, Member States and stakeholders have already witnessed the strength of our collective efforts when we choose cooperation over division.
I am confident that we will rise to the occasion.
Let us build on that momentum and deliver tangible results together.
Thank you. Muchas gracias.