Handover ceremony of the Chairmanship of the Group of 77 (from the Co-operative Republic of Guyana to Republic of Guinea)

INDIA STATEMENT

By Ambassador K. Nagaraj Naidu Deputy Permanent Representative

18 January 2021

Thank you, Mr. Chair, 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, 

We join the other member states in thanking the delegation of Guyana and extends a very warm welcome to H.E. Mr. Mamadi Toure, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Guinea. 

We would like to recognize the astute leadership and guidance offered to the G77 by the former Guyanese PR Ambassador Michael Ten-Pow and the current Ambassador Ms. Carolyn Birkett during an extremely challenging year and the patience and grace that the Guyanese Mission has displayed in the smooth conduct of various processes which has not only strengthened the G77 movement but has ensured that the voice of the developing countries resonated with force and conviction across every UN process. 

Despite the challenges, 2020 has been a substantial year for G77. The group worked together in full solidarity on a wide variety of issues including climate change, financing for development, health, sustainable development and saw the successful conclusion of the QCPR. 

My delegation also extends its sincere congratulations and a very warm welcome to the Republic Guinea as it takes over the Chairmanship of the Group for the year 2021. 

Mr. Chairman

The G77 countries need to make collective efforts for a resilient recovery to overcome the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Otherwise, we would risk threatening to setback decades of development progress made by countries and push millions back into poverty.

As one of the largest vaccines producing country of the world, we have already pledged to make our vaccine production and delivery capacity available to the entire humanity. 

Guinea will be holding the Group’s chairmanship for the first time, in a year when the world has begun its efforts to overcome the pandemic. India has full confidence in the leadership of Guinea under Ambassador Aly Dianeand believes that the delegation will work towards strengthening the G77 principles of unity, complementarity, cooperation, and solidarity. 

I would like to assure the Permanent Representative of Guinea of India’s unflinching support to his leadership of the Group.

Mr. Chairman,

2021 will witness the High-Level Dialogue on Energy, the Food Systems Summit, commemoration of the 20^th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration, CoP 26 of UNFCCC, CoP15 of CBD, review of the format of the HLPF, meetings of LDCs and on desertification etc. 

In all these processes, the priorities, needs, and objectives of the developing world must remain the centre of attention. 

We are confident that the G77 will immensely benefit from the leadership and wisdom that Guinea will bring as Chair of the G77. 

To conclude, on behalf of my delegation, I would wish the incoming Chair and all Group members a year full of purposeful endeavors and much success.

I thank you.