2022 UN Ocean Conference

Interactive Dialogue: Promoting and strengthening sustainable ocean - based economies, in particular for Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries

(Date: 28 June 2022 (Tuesday) /Time : 10 AM- 1PM)

Intervention by India

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

• The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on countries and regions, particularly on Small Island Developing States and the Least Developed Countries. 

• Access to fast and effective support from the international community is vital, as their public spending needs to counter the economic effects of the pandemic are mounting.

• At the same time, potential stress on available international development resources makes it important to have tailored and smart deployment of these resources.

• This means that support must focus on fostering a recovery that addresses their most critical structural challenges, enhancing the resilience and sustainability of existing key economic sectors, building capacity and skill, and fostering economic diversification by unlocking new development opportunities, such as in the digital space and in the Blue Economy, that are aligned with their national priorities.

• India’s broad-based development cooperation efforts have long followed this approach and are aimed at helping primarily developing and Least Developed countries.

• In 2017, we set up the India - UN Development Partnership Fund in collaboration with UN Office of South South Cooperation. Under this Fund, 59 projects in 48 countries are currently under various stages of implementation and several more are in the pipeline. 

• We have been at the side of our partners in the immediate response to the pandemic, including by dispatching medicines, emergency relief materials, medical teams and vaccines and also created travel bubbles in our region to sustain tourism.

• During COP26 last year, India launched the ‘Infrastructure for Resilient Island States’ (IRIS) initiative, to provide technical support and build capacity on disaster and climate resilience of infrastructure assets in Island states.

• India is promoting greater maritime cooperation within the regional frameworks such as IORA and the East Asia Summit Process in areas such as marine pollution, IUU fishing, capacity building and maritime security. 

• On Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), India has played a lead role in being the first responder within the region. 

• In conclusion, I would add that India hopes to continue these initiatives with a consultative and demand driven approach and be a steadfast ally in the developmental journey of all our partner countries.

I thank you Mr. Chairman. 

***