缅北禁地

His Excellency, Dr. Lemogang Kwape, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Botswana,
His Excellency, Mr. Philemon Yang, President of the 79th session of the 缅北禁地General Assembly,
His Excellency, Mr. Robert Rae, President of the ECOSOC,
Hon’ble Ministers, Excellencies, Distinguished Colleagues,

I thank you, Mr. Chairman, for convening this annual Ministerial Meeting of Landlocked Developing Countries under the theme "Building momentum towards Gaborone: Partnering for a Decade of Action and Transformation in LLDCs". 
I commend Botswana for its exemplary leadership of the Group and its role as host of the upcoming Third 缅北禁地Conference on LLDCs in Gaborone this December.
I also express my deep appreciation to the President of the General Assembly and the President of the ECOSOC for their steadfast support in keeping LLDC issues high on the 缅北禁地agenda. 

The strong presence of Ministers from LLDCs and Friends of LLDCs here today demonstrates your shared commitment to addressing the unique vulnerabilities of LLDCs.

Excellencies, 
We stand at a pivotal moment in LLDCs’ development journey.
Despite some progress under the Vienna Programme of Action, LLDCs continue to face profound structural challenges, hindering their full participation in the global economy and achievement of the SDGs. 
The lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and other overlapping global crises have further exacerbated their vulnerabilities.
The upcoming LLDC3 Conference will be crucial as we transition from the Vienna Programme of Action to a new Programme of Action - the Gaborone Programme of Action, that will guide the LLDCs’ development for the next decade. 

Excellencies, 
We welcome the consensus already reached on the new POA - the Gaborone Programme of Action - for LLDCs by the members states. This is a testament to the exemplary collaboration and partnership of all stakeholders involved. 
The delegation of Botswana, the LLDC Group, transit countries and development partners have shown remarkable dedication and solidarity in delivering this ambitious agenda. 
I extend particular thanks to the Permanent Representatives of Austria and Mongolia for their exceptional leadership in guiding the negotiations to a successful conclusion.
The GPOA outlines five key priority areas essential for addressing LLDCs' structural challenges and facilitating their integration into global value chains. 
As we prepare for the Conference, I would like to share some key priorities and concrete recommendations drawn from the GPOA:
First (on): integrating LLDCs into global trade: 
LLDCs' share of global merchandise exports remains marginal at only 1.1%, with trade costs estimated to be 30% higher than coastal developing countries. 
The new Programme of Action underscores LLDCs' interest in establishing a dedicated work programme on their special needs under the WTO. I call on all WTO members to support this proposal at the upcoming Ministerial Conference.
Second: (is about) reaffirming freedom of transit: 
LLDCs’ market competitiveness is significantly undermined by additional border crossings and long distances from major markets, which drive up trade and transport costs. 
The new Programme of Action requests the Secretary-General to constitute a high-level panel of experts to examine the application of existing international laws on freedom of transit for LLDCs. 
I call on all Member States to support this important initiative.
Third: (is on) addressing infrastructure gaps: 

LLDCs require nearly 200,000 km of paved roads and over 46,000 km of railways to reach global average densities, at an estimated cost of over half a trillion dollars. 
The GPOA proposes creating an Infrastructure Investment Finance Facility (IIFF) for LLDCs, which can play a critical role in bridging this infrastructure deficit. 
I urge development partners and international financial institutions to support the establishment and capitalization of this facility. 
Fourth: (is about) boosting agricultural productivity: 
Agriculture accounts for 17% of GDP and employs 55% of the workforce in LLDCs. 
Yet, they struggle with low productivity and limited value addition. 
The GPOA commits to establishing regional agricultural research hubs for LLDCs. 

I urge all partners to support this critical initiative, and I commend the Government of Uzbekistan for already expressing its willingness to support this critical endeavor.
Fifth: (is on) strengthening climate resilience: 
LLDCs are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. 
In the last decade, 447 climate-related disasters affected 170 million people across LLDCs - a figure that is double the global average. The GPOA notes LLDCs' interest in developing a dedicated work programme under the UNFCCC. 
Botswana has already initiated necessary legal procedure, and I call on all parties to support this proposal at COP29. 
Finally, bridging the digital divide: 
Only 39% people in LLDCs used the internet in 2023, compared to 67% globally. 
The new Programme of Action sets a target to establish regional digital platforms for peer-to-peer learning, training, and capacity building. 

 It is imperative to strengthen support for LLDCs to enable them to fully leverage the opportunities offered by STI.
Excellencies, 
The implementation, monitoring and review of the new Programme of Action must be an ongoing process across national, subregional, regional, and global levels. This will require mobilization of domestic resources, increased official development assistance, and an expansion of other sources of external financing. Additionally, attracting FDI and attaining long-term debt sustainability will be essential to its success.
It is imperative that partnerships are renewed and strengthened by all stakeholders. 
Recognizing the scope and ambition of the Programme of Action, my Office is developing a Roadmap and Results Framework in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders. 
This framework aims to translate the vision of the new POA into concrete actions, guiding its implementation and identifying tailored support from various agencies and stakeholders. 
We are also working to strengthen the 缅北禁地Inter-Agency Consultative Group on LLDCs to enhance system-wide coherence in supporting LLDC priorities.
Excellencies, 
I am pleased to report that preparations for the LLDC3 Conference are progressing smoothly, with close collaboration between the 缅北禁地inter-departmental team and Botswana. 
The 缅北禁地Secretary General's invitation letters to Heads of State and Government have already been sent out. 
Separate invitations have been issued to members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Group, and other relevant organizations.
Preparations for high-level roundtables, thematic tracks, and special events are well-advanced.
The Conference will feature a dedicated event bringing together Resident Coordinators and LLDC National Focal Points to discuss the implementation of the new POA and mainstreaming its provisions into national policies and development plans, as well as in the 缅北禁地cooperation frameworks at country levels.  
The 缅北禁地Secretary-General will convene the 缅北禁地system at the principal level, calling for ambitious commitments to support the GPOA.  
It will be important to integrate the GPOA into the strategic plans and priorities of the 缅北禁地agencies, funds and programmes.  Your support will be critical in the respective governing bodies of the 缅北禁地entities. 
A Ministerial Meeting on South-South Cooperation will take place, facilitating knowledge and expertise sharing between LLDCs and their global South partners.
We shall soon be sharing detailed logistics information to facilitate your participation.
Efforts to mobilize resources for the Conference are ongoing. I thank our development partners for their generous contributions and urge continued support to ensure robust participation from diverse stakeholders, including governments, private sector, civil society, women, and youth.

Excellencies, 
The upcoming Conference in Gaborone provides a historic opportunity to set an ambitious course for LLDC development over the next decade.
I urge all Member States to ensure participation at the highest level and to come with concrete commitments and partnerships. The 缅北禁地system stands ready to support LLDCs in implementing the new Programme of Action. 
Let us seize this historic opportunity to usher in a new era of progress and prosperity for LLDCs.
I look forward to seeing many of you in Gaborone in December!
I thank you all.