Annual Ministerial Meeting of LDCs

“Accelerated implementation of the Doha Programme of Action to
overcome the impact of the ongoing crises and regain
momentum in achieving the SDGs in LDCs”

INDIA Statement 

Excellencies, colleagues,

    I would like to begin by thanking Malawi, the Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau of the LDCs for convening the Annual LDCs Ministerial meeting. I am pleased to be able to join other members of the Group of Friends of LDCs in conveying our strong support to your efforts towards a new global vision for the least developed countries. 

Friends,

2.    We are meeting as we all gear up for the fifth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC-5) to be held in Doha in March next year.  Today’s discussions present a timely opportunity to discuss how we can make the most of the momentum afforded by the LDC-5 conference, in order to reinvigorate the global partnership for sustainable development and irreversible graduation of LDCs. 

3.    Earlier this year, India was pleased to join in the unanimous adoption of the Doha Programme of Action for the LDCs. The Programme of Action contains renewed commitments by the LDCs and development partners to ensure rapid, sustainable and inclusive recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and to build resilience against future shocks.

4.    The priority areas of the Doha Programme of Action, including eradicating extreme poverty, access to sustainable financing, leveraging the power of technology and innovation, and bringing about structural transformation; mirror India’s own priorities in its long-standing development partnership with LDCs.

5.    The success of this Programme of Action will depend heavily on LDCs ownership and leadership to develop and implement policies according to their national priorities.

6.    We must also be watchful, and learn from practices that have proven to be unsustainable in the past. Financial responsibility, transparency and viability must be at the forefront when looking at financing options, including financing of infrastructure projects, to avoid imposing further unsustainable debt burdens on already vulnerable communities. It is equally important for project sustainability that they be accompanied by skill and technology transfer. 

7.    These are principles that have long been at the heart of India’s consultative and demand-driven approach to development cooperation, be it our extensive bilateral partnerships, or our initiatives through plurilateral and multilateral platforms, such as the India Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) or the India-UN Development Partnership Fund. Our recent initiatives of the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure present further examples of innovative solutions that tackle the challenges of clean and renewable energy and disaster resilience, both pertinent issues for LDCs. Since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict, in order to mitigate the adverse effects of the disruptions in the food and commodity supply chains, India has also been providing financial and food assistance to countries in need. 

8.    I would like to assure our LDC friends that they will continue to find in India a steadfast and reliable partner, as they embark on the implementation of the Doha Programme of Action. India’s support, as always, will be without any conditionalities or any hidden agenda.

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