India affirms support for sustainable development of landlocked developing countries at UN
- In Reports
- 02:46 PM, Jun 11, 2024
- Myind Staff
India reiterated its commitment to addressing the unique challenges encountered by Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and supporting their sustainable development through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund. Yojna Patel, India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, delivered this message during a statement at the 2nd Session of the Preparatory Committee for the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries on Monday.
Patel emphasised that India is sensitive to the difficulties faced by LLDCs and places high priority on fostering effective cooperation between these countries and transit nations. She particularly highlighted the importance of enhancing transit and trade facilitation mechanisms to facilitate smoother economic activities and development for LLDCs.
India's stance underscores its proactive approach in international forums to advocate for the needs and challenges specific to LLDCs, aiming to strengthen global cooperation towards sustainable development goals. The India-UN Development Partnership Fund serves as a concrete initiative through which India contributes to the development efforts of LLDCs, reflecting its commitment to international development cooperation.
In her address, Patel highlighted that the latter half of the implementation period of the Vienna Programme of Action witnessed socio-economic gains achieved by landlocked developing countries being reversed, largely due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical conflicts. She pointed out that global supply chain disruptions and rising prices of essential commodities such as food, fuel, and fertilizers exacerbated trade and logistical costs for LLDCs.
Patel also acknowledged that long-standing issues such as trade and transit bottlenecks, unsustainable debt levels, and dependencies on natural resources continue to pose significant challenges for LLDCs. These factors have hindered their sustainable development efforts and economic resilience, necessitating international cooperation and support to address these complex issues effectively.
Yojna Patel, speaking at the 2nd Session of the Preparatory Committee for the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, underscored the enduring challenges faced by LLDCs. She highlighted issues such as trade and transit bottlenecks, unsustainable debt burdens, and dependencies on natural resources as major hurdles impeding their development.
India, as a transit country, expressed sensitivity towards these challenges and emphasised the importance of effective cooperation between LLDCs and transit nations. Patel stressed that improving transit and trade facilitation mechanisms is crucial for enhancing transport efficiency and economic effectiveness, aligning with the detailed action plan to be adopted during the PREPCOM.
Discussing regional cooperation initiatives, Patel mentioned the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN) Initiative. She noted ongoing discussions within BBIN on sectors including power, water resource management, inland waterways, and railway connectivity, aimed at bolstering economic ties and connectivity, particularly benefiting landlocked Nepal and Bhutan while enhancing access to global supply chains for BBIN countries.
Highlighting India's commitment to supporting LLDCs, Patel detailed India's extensive cooperation efforts through its Development Partnership Programme and the India-UN Development Partnership Fund. She cited projects in African LLDCs focusing on power generation, IT infrastructure, major infrastructure development, and water management, all aimed at improving living standards and fostering sustainable development.
Looking ahead to the LLDC3 Conference scheduled later in the year, Patel announced India's financial contribution of USD 300,000 towards the event. She expressed India's readiness to participate actively in the conference at the highest level, reaffirming its dedication to advancing the agenda for LLDCs on the global stage.
Image source: ANI
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