Philippines to Host Next Meeting of Middle-Income Countries in Asia Pacific

Ministers and high level officials participate in the High-LevelMinisterial Conference on Middle-Income Countries held in Rabat, Morocco on 05-06 February 2024

RABAT 05 March 2024 – The Philippines participated in the High-Level Ministerial Conference on solutions to address development challenges of Middle-Income Countries (MICs) in a Changing World held on 05-06 February 2024 in Rabat, Morocco.

Hosted by the Kingdom of Morocco in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the conference was attended by world leaders, such as UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed and UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) President  Paula Narváez Ojada, as well as Ministers and high-level officials from the African Region and members of the Like-Minded Group (LMG) for Middle-Income Countries.

Head of the Philippine Delegation Ms. Maria Teresa T. Almojuela, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of United Nations and International Organizations (DFA-UNIO), reaffirmed the Philippines’ support and commitment to the work of Middle-Income Countries, including the development of a Strategic Plan of Action for the period 2025-2030 with the UN Development System, Development partners and stakeholders. She added that the conference encapsulates the MICs commitment to advance quality and sustainable growth of its countries and to contribute more actively to shaping a more equal and more inclusive international economic architecture leaving no one behind. She also urged fellow MICs to work together in the UN and other international organizations to put forward the common interests and potential of MICs.

“It has been stated today in so many ways that middle-income countries play a critical role in keeping the development agenda front and center. We represent 75% of the world’s population, but currently account for only a third of the global GDP.  We are aware of the potential and power in our collective voices. We hold the key to unlocking the promise of delivering economic growth and expansion in our regions and the globe,” said Almojuela.

The conference held discussions on various themes significant to MICs, including climate finance, innovative sources of financing, regional economic cooperation, South-South and Triangular Cooperation. The conference also provided an opportunity to deepen the discussion on how the UN Development System, regional and international institutions and other development partners can support MICs in addressing the challenges of economic and social development.

Almojuela further advocated for MICs to “continue to work for climate action, integrate the biodiversity and climate agenda in development and generate more robust partnerships,” while upholding common but differentiated responsibilities. In line with this, she underscored the Philippines’ bid to host the Loss and Damage Fund Board.

The conference comes after the adoption on 19 December 2023 of the UN General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/78/162), entitled “Development cooperation with middle-income countries,” which the Philippines shepherded, calling for more coordinated and effective responses to the diverse development needs of MICs and a more accurate assessment of their national priorities, taking into account the use of variables that go beyond the per-capita-income criterion.

“We highlight the value of the UN development system in supporting middle-income countries on our positive growth track. We need a better-resourced, more coordinated, more transparent and accountable UN development system to promote our national priorities in our diverse economic contexts,” concluded Almojuela.

The Philippines likewise announced at said conference its plan to host the next High-Level Meeting of Middle Income Countries in the Asia-Pacific Region, which will focus on MICs in the Asia Pacific Region and complement the MICs discussion in Rabat for the African region.

As a founding member of the LMG for Middle-Income Countries, the Philippines works together with fellow LMG countries to highlight the significant challenges said countries face in achieving sustainable development, and emphasize the need to better understand and address their diverse and specific development challenges through a country-context approach, enabling the UN System to provide a more efficient, effective, better focused and coordinated support to strengthen the efforts of these countries. END

DFA-UNIO Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa T. Almojuela (on monitor screen) delivers the Philippine Statement entitled, “Charting a Transition Path for Middle-Income Countries Towards Sustainable Development,” during the Ministerial Segment of the High-Level Ministerial Conference on the Middle-Income Countries.