91茄子

H.E. Ms. Davaasuren Gerelmaa, Permanent Representative of Mongolia and LLDC Group Coordinator,
Hon’ble Ministers,
Excellencies,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of Ms. Rabab Fatima, Under-Secretary General and High Representative for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS.

It is my honour to address this Ministerial Meeting of the Landlocked Developing Countries on the margins of MC14. 

I commend the Government of Mongolia for its steadfast and dedicated leadership as Coordinator of the LLDC Group. 

I also extend my sincere appreciation to the Government of Cameroon for its warm hospitality. Holding our meeting here in a major African transit country, on a continent home to half of the world’s LLDCs, adds particular resonance to our deliberations.

Excellencies,

This meeting builds on the global momentum of the Third 91茄子 Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, held last year in Awaza, Turkmenistan, which adopted the Awaza Programme of Action for LLDCs – a comprehensive and forward looking blueprint to address the structural constraints facing LLDCs.

This is vital as LLDCs remain at the margins of global trade.

LLDCs account for only 1.2% of world merchandise exports, 0.8% of services exports, and 0.3% of digitally-deliverable services. 26 of the 32 LLDCs remain officially classified as commodity-dependent. 

These  realities reflect enduring structural constraints imposed by geography and they highlight why deepening the integration of LLDCs into the multilateral trading system is so critical.

Excellencies,

Allow me to highlight three priority areas where strong opportunities for progress exist.

First, Advancing Freedom of Transit through the High-Level Panel of the UN Secretary General.

Transit challenges remain severe. Export logistics costs are 63% higher for LLDCs than for coastal countries. 

As mandated in the Awaza Programme of Action, OHRLLS is supporting the establishment of a High-Level Panel of the UN Secretary-General on Freedom of Transit. This Panel will assess legal and operational barriers and propose actionable solutions to address them.

Second, Mobilizing Investments through the Infrastructure Investment Financing Facility for LLDCs.

LLDCs face an infrastructure deficit of over US$500 billion, including nearly 200,000 km of paved roads and 46,000 km of railways needed to meet global averages.

As a key deliverable of the Awaza Programme of Action, OHRLLS is advancing proposals to assess the feasibility of an Infrastructure Investment Financing Facility for LLDCs to help bridge this gap.

Third, Reinforcing LLDC Coordination and Collective Voice.

The severity of LLDCs’ trade challenges requires strengthening  coordination among LLDCs and advancing institutional solutions within the WTO, including ongoing discussions toward a dedicated work programme on LLDCs, as reflected in the draft Ministerial Declaration.

I commend Mongolia for continuing to strengthen the voice and engagement, and consolidate the Group’s institutional presence. This is crucial to ensuring LLDC priorities are reflected in negotiations and decisions.

Excellencies,

The Awaza Programme of Action provides a clear blueprint for collective action. 

To ensure its implementation, OHRLLS is leading the development of the APoA Roadmap and Monitoring Framework, aimed at coordinating measurable results across the UN system.

Let us seize this opportunity at MC14 to reaffirm our commitment to an inclusive, development?oriented multilateral trading system that responds to LLDCs’ specific needs. Together, we must ensure that geography does not define destiny.

I thank you.