22 October 2015 - Ambassador Cecilia B. Rebong, Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva and Chairperson of the Geneva Chapter of the Group of 77 and China (G77) led the developing countries of the South in negotiations on how the UN can continue to assist African countries and those that are considered Least Developed during the 62nd Session of the Trade and Development Board of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) last September 25. Aside from discussing development issues related to Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), the yearly bi-weekly session also discusses issues that are high on the global development agenda.
Ambassador Rebong, in her opening remarks, said, “This is a watershed moment in the field of development. Last July, countries agreed on the comprehensive Addis Ababa Action Agenda that determines and provides commitments on how countries will help each other in terms of financing their development. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will also replace the 8 MDGs and set even more ambitious goals for us to attain.” She added that “in both these landmark agreements, Africa and Least Developed Countries figure prominently and the international community must do what it can to help them.”
Ambassador Rebong cited the Trade and Development Report prepared by UNCTAD, which points out that African countries are expected to have difficulty given the dependence of some African economies on commodities, the prices of which, including oil, have been on the decline. Furthermore, African economies need to move from low end production to those with higher value, which would allow them to move up the global value chain. The report also cited the concerns regarding the LDCs, which in spite of economic expansion still remain among those most impoverished, a situation which the UNCTAD refers to as the “LDC paradox.”
In the agreed conclusions on Africa, which the Philippines negotiated on behalf of G77 and China, there was agreement that Africa must be given support in terms of trade facilitation as well as public and private investment in the infrastructure sector so the continent will be able to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
In the agreed conclusions on LDCs, which the Philippines also negotiated on behalf of G77, there was agreement that LDCs need continued support from all sectors so that they may graduate from this status and it highlighted the importance of developing their productive capacities and the need for structural transformation, including the diversification of their economies.
Ambassador Rebong pointed out that “in helping countries from the South, in particular those in Africa and the LDCs achieve their development goals, the Philippines as G77 Chair is already doing its part in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that our leaders agreed upon with its 17 goals and 169 targets in New York at the UN High Level Summit from September 25 to 27.” She added that “there are several countries in our region that are considered LDCs, by helping them break the cycle of poverty and graduate from that status we are helping ourselves by creating a stronger more robust Asian economic region, able to withstand economic shocks and one that is more attractive to investments.” Countries that fall under the LDCs category are those that have the lowest indicators in terms of socioeconomic development. They also have a high incidence of poverty with weak human resources and exhibit economic vulnerability. END