Nepal Takes Over as LDC Chair

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 17:38:00 +0000

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UN-OHRLLS

Nepal has taken over as Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) after five years of stewardship by Malawi.

At a ceremony at the 51�Թ� Headquarters in New York City on April 5, the Permanent Representative of Malawi, Amb. Agnes Chimbiri-Molande, handed the chairmanship to Amb. Amrit Bahadur Rai of Nepal.

The Bureau is mandated to promote and protect the interests of LDCs, which are low-income countries confronting severe structural impediments to sustainable development.

Supported by the UN through the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), the bureau advocates for the LDCs’ interests and the implementation of the Doha Programme of Action and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

During the handover, the new Chair, Amb. Amrit Bahadur Rai, vowed to “make every possible effort to protect and promote [LDCs’] common interest”.

The handover happens at a pivotal time for LDCs, just weeks after the Fifth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5). With the implementation of the Doha Programme of Action now underway, Nepal will lead the Bureau as it tackles the most pressing challenges, concerns, and priorities of LDCs, advocating for real change on a global scale for the most vulnerable.

The Doha Programme of Action marks a new era of global cooperation and partnership on trade, climate, finance, debt relief, and technology transfer, enabling LDCs to achieve the SDGs and ensure their graduation with momentum.

Ms. Rabab Fatima, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States commended the sincere efforts and commitment of Malawian Ambassador Agnes Chimbiri-Molande and her team in “relentlessly pursuing the goals and purposes of the Group with great success”.

The High Representative also congratulated Nepal, noting their “vast knowledge, experience, and an excellent track record of leading LDC issues in the global arena”.

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Bangladesh and Canada elected Co-Chairs of LDC5 Preparatory Committee

HSASS — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 20:33:06 +0000

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LDC5, in setting the development agenda for LDCs until 2030, will be the most high-profile and comprehensive development conferences of the decade.

The Permanent Representatives of Bangladesh and Canada to the 51�Թ� have been elected as Co-Chairs of the LDC5 Preparatory Committee bureau, a key board that will lead preparations for the Fifth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5).

LDC5, in setting the development agenda for LDCs until 2030, will be the most high-profile and comprehensive development conferences of the decade.

Ambassadors Rabab Fatima and Bob Rae oversaw the session that also heard statements from Member States and observers about their ambitions and expectations from the LDC5 Conference.

Ambitions expressed reflect the significant range of challenges facing the 46 Least Developed Countries. It was noted repeatedly that COVID-19, climate change and conflict reflect serious structural impediments to economic development.

COVID-19 especially has been catastrophic for LDCs’ economies, collapsing commodity prices, disrupting manufacturing and virtually killing international tourism. The result has been a sharp reduction in GDP growth. Together with widening deficits, escalating debt, and a drop in Foreign Direct Investment and remittances, the effects of COVID-19 will jeopardize LDCs’ progress towards sustainable development for years to come.

With more than a billion people and a burgeoning youth population, it was also highlighted that LDCs can be the frontier market for global production and consumption.

Speakers called for immediate increased global support to overcome the impacts of COVID-19 and to build back societies that are better, smarter and more resilient. It was agreed that LDC5 represents an extraordinary opportunity to agree on a new global deal for LDCs; a deal to achieve the SDGs and while leaving no one behind.

The full list of statements made at the session can be found here.

Supporting the Co-Chairs, the following countries were elected as Vice-Chairs of the bureau: Ethiopia and Uganda from the African States; Nepal from the Asia-Pacific States; Czech Republic from the Eastern European States; Haiti and Paraguay from the Latin American and Caribbean States; and Turkey from the Western European and other States.

Qatar, as host of LDC5 and Malawi, as Chair of the Group of LDCs, will also sit on the bureau.

The next meeting on the LDC5 calendar will be the Africa Regional Review, which also covers Haiti, from 22 to 26 February 2021.

OHRLLS is organising the meeting with the Government of the Republic of Malawi and the Economic Commission for Africa, in collaboration with various other UN agencies.

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Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States - Fifth 51�Թ� Conference on the Least Developed Countries LDC5

Nepal Takes Over as LDC Chair

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Bangladesh and Canada elected Co-Chairs of LDC5 Preparatory Committee

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