Second Committee of the 75^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly 

Agenda Item 25[a] & [b] Operational Activities for Development & South-South Cooperation

INDIA STATEMENT

By Mr. Siddharth Malik, First Secretary

5 October, 2020

Thank you Mr. Chair, we complement the Secretary General on extremely insightful reports under the agenda item 25. India associates itself with the statement delivered by the distinguished delegate of Guyana on behalf of the Group of 77.

Mr. Chair, 

Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, significant strides have been made by UN Development System (UNDS) to adapt and respond to evolving challenges and opportunities for development cooperation. We have taken several steps to reform the UNDS in the recent past, such as ‘reinvigorated Resident Coordinator System’, revamping of the regional assets and the review of the Multi-Country Offices.  

In this session, we look forward to a meaningful discussion for the 2020 QCPR, with the aim to set out the overall policy direction for the operational activities towards an effective, efficient and coherent UN development system. The objective of QCPR should be to strengthen delivery of service by the UN development system to support countries in their efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda and assist in coping up with the development challenges such as that of COVID-19 pandemic in this decade of action. 

Mr. Chair, 

For India, the focus of UN development system should be an unrelenting resolve to eradicate poverty. It is equally important that the fundamental principles of national ownership and leadership, and deference to national development priorities must be the pivots around which UN development activities are modeled and implemented. 

Mr. Chair, 

The UN system needs to focus on those functions it is uniquely qualified to deliver, based on consultation with national governments and supported with predictable and adequate volume of flexible resources.  The quality and volume of resources must lead to improvement in system’s predictability and impartiality. At the same time, we have to ensure that resources meant for core development programmes are not diverted; else it will have a deleterious effect on the development agenda of the developing countries, in particular on LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS.

Mr. Chair,

The 2030 Agenda speaks adequately of the developmental aspirations of the Global South. UN Development System needs to maximize its impact while strengthening partnerships and enhancing support for South-South cooperation. 

In recent years, the scope of South-South cooperation has expanded well beyond technical cooperation and exchange of knowledge to include trade, investment, infrastructure and connectivity as well as coordination of policies and development strategies among developing countries. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, South-South cooperation has shown that it can rise up to the challenge and deliver due to its unique and demand driven approach.

Mr. Chair, 

India remains committed to the principles of South-South cooperation both at regional and global level for mutual learning, capacity building and progress of all developing countries. India has acted with a deep and abiding commitment to South-South Cooperation which it views as development partnership to distinguish it from traditional North-South Cooperation.

India continues to engage with global South more than ever before. Last year’s India-CARICOM Leaders Meeting, three India-Africa Forum Summits along with the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation have further strengthened the special relationship between India and fellow developing countries.

Indian model of developmental cooperation is comprehensive and involves multiple instruments including grant-in-aid, line of credit, capacity building and technical assistance.  The most fundamental principle in cooperation for India is respecting development partners and be guided by their development priorities. It includes providing training to nearly 15,000 students annually from more than 160 countries under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC), 300 concessional Line of Credit worth US$ 30.66 billion which have been extended to 64 countries and number of grant-in-aid projects, aggregating around US$ 4 billion covering various sectors such as infrastructure, hydroelectricity, power transmission, agriculture, education, health, industry. 

Another innovative approach is a modest effort of translating thinking into action is the US$ 150 million India-UN Development Partnership Fund. The Fund continues to support Southern-owned and led demand-driven, and transformational sustainable development projects across the developing world with a focus on LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS.  In three years, it has a portfolio of 59 projects in 48 countries. 

Mr. Chair, 

India is at the forefront in the call for joint global action to address the COVID-19 pandemic with the aim of assisting fellow developing countries. We have extended medical-related assistance to more than 150 countries, pledged US$ 15 Million to Gavi, the international vaccine alliance and have operationalized the SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Fund with an initial contribution of US$10 million. The India-UN Development Partnership Fund is playing a pivotal role in helping developing nations to cope with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Various projects under the Fund are assisting countries with supply of medical equipment, building health-care capacities and catalysing a transformative recovery.

Mr. Chair,

India has been and will continue to share its developmental experiences and technical expertise with fellow developing countries in the spirit of “World is One Family”. Our approach to development partnership will be human-centric, based on principles of mutual respect and national ownership with a commitment to sustainable development for all.

I thank you.