8 February 2023

Excellencies,

Madame President,

Madame DSG,

Madame USG,

USG,

Dear Friends,

 

As we meet today, the world is reeling under the cascading impacts of complex, interlocking challenges.

 

Skyrocketing inflation.

 

Increasingly fragmented global supply chains. 

 

The triple threat of the food, fuel, and finance crises.

 

Against this bleak backdrop, global economic growth is projected to slow down significantly this year.

 

This slowdown may grow long-drawn-out if we fail to address the issues embedded within it.

 

Structural limitations and constrained fiscal capabilities make Least Developed Countries the ones first and often most severely impacted by overlapping challenges.

 

Their domino effect may set LDCs back by decades on their development gains.

 

But let me remind you, dear friends, that the Least Developed Countries that suffer the protracted effects of interconnected crises are often those least responsible for the global trends lashing out on them.

 

Think of climate change, for example.

 

Excellencies,

 

The second part of the Fifth UN Conference on LDCs will take place, as mentioned a couple of minutes ago, in less than one month’s time – this year’s theme being ‘from potential to prosperity’.

 

This is the occasion to give a second boost to implementing the Doha Programme of Action, which was adopted a year ago.

 

The Programme of Action for 2022 – 2031 provides a blueprint for LDCs to overcome the impacts of ongoing global crises.

 

To build sustainable and inclusive recovery from the pandemic.

 

And to build resilience against future shocks.

 

In other words, to help us all to get back on track with the 2030 Agenda.

 

The Doha Programme also contains important deliverables:

 

  • the establishment of an online university,
  • platforms to support online university-level science, technology, and engineering,
  • an investment support center, and
  • food stockholding for LDCs, to name but a few.

 

We must ensure that the Doha Programme of Action is implemented within the given timeframe.

 

LDCs need to do their part to expand their social safety nets and improve the domestic environment through good governance and enhancing efficiency.

 

But development partners also need to deliver on their pledges.

 

This is the time to show solidarity with the most vulnerable countries by fulfilling commitments instead of backtracking on them.

 

As we work to address LDCs’ systemic and structural vulnerabilities, it is critical to ensure that our policy responses are aligned with the individual countries’ national development vision.

 

In other words, our steps should reflect the concerned Member States’ needs and wants.

 

In our collective efforts to implement the Doha Programme of Action, building synergy across sectors and with other important processes will be critical. 

 

I will ensure that LDCs are duly integrated into the development-related agenda of the Assembly, including the follow-up of the 2030 Agenda.

                                      

The issues of the LDCs will remain a priority of the General Assembly, and I look forward to attending the 5th Conference in Qatar in March.

 

I invite all countries to attend at the highest possible level.

 

LDC5 will be a momentous occasion to renew the global commitment to supporting the poorest and most exposed members of our human family. 

 

Through science, technology, and innovation, we have the tools to build sustainable recoveries.

 

Let us work together to ensure that the Doha Programme of Action is implemented on time.

 

For that will give us all the chance to catch up on reaching our 2030 goals.

 

I thank you.