Remarks by H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly
23 September 2021
Excellencies,
Allow me to express my appreciation to the Government of Kazakhstan, as Chair of the Group of Landlocked Developing countries, for the opportunity to address this annual gathering.
Coming from the Maldives, I am well aware of the significant impact the global pandemic has had on countries in special situations, particularly LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS.
For LLDCs, social and economic growth was already a challenge long before COVID-19. Indirect or limited access to the sea and connections to major trade routes hindered jobs and economic growth, which echoed across socio-economic development.
The global pandemic – with its impact on trade, supply chains, and movement across borders – only exacerbated this situation.
Excellencies,
Amongst my priorities this session – my five rays of hope – is the need to recovery sustainably from the pandemic. This includes efforts to align recovery with the SDGs and other major global frameworks, including the Vienna Programme of Action.
For LLDCs, this is critical. Recovery funds and programmes must prioritize alignment with these game-changing agendas, – especially the Vienna Programme of Action, which is the blueprint for the sustainable development of LLDCs. This will allow for a recovery that boosts economic growth while embracing approaches that are greener, bluer, more equitable and more resilient.
Ladies and gentlemen, throughout the 76th session of the General Assembly, we will champion the needs of countries in special situations, including LLDCs.
Through my reconstituted Board of Advisors on LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS, we will ensure that all high-level meetings and discussions are sensitive to the economic hardship imposed by COVID on this group of States.
We will emphasize efforts to align recovery with the SDGs as well as the Vienne Programme of Action and its six priorities.
And we will push to strengthen partnerships – with other Member States, at the global, regional and national levels, but also with International Financial Institutions, the private sector, and CSOs – to enable a resilient, future-building recovery.
Colleagues, I remain at your service and I look forward to hearing your ideas on how to make this possible.
I thank you.
Amongst my priorities this session – my five rays of hope – is the need to recovery sustainably from the pandemic. This includes efforts to align recovery with the SDGs and other major global frameworks, including the Vienna Programme of Action.
