President of the Trade and Development Board Ambassador Federico Villegas (Argentina),
Secretary-General of UNCTAD Mukhisa Kituyi,
Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD Isabelle Durant,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. The Group of 77 and China would like to congratulate His Excellency Ambassador Federico Villegas of the Permanent Mission of the Argentine Republic to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, for his assumption of the Presidency of the Trade and Development Board (TDB) of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The Group further congratulates all members of the Bureau of the Board elected during this session.

2. The Group of 77 and China also wishes to express its most sincere gratitude to His Excellency Ambassador Michael Gaffey of Ireland, the outgoing President of the Trade and Development Board, for his tireless efforts in guiding the work of the Board and ensuring the continuity of the work of UNCTAD’s intergovernmental machinery, especially during this difficult time of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Group greatly appreciates your leadership and dedication in advancing the interests of the Member States of UNCTAD. We wish you great success in your next assignment.

3. With your indulgence, Mr. President, the Group of 77 & China would like to pay tribute to the late Ambassador Christopher Onyanga Aparr, Permanent Representative of Uganda, who also aptly served as President of the Trade and Development Board of UNCTAD from 2016 to 2017.

4. Throughout his tenure as Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Aparr was truly one-of-a-kind. An outstanding diplomat, a man of many talents and interests, a champion of the cause of development and a human being whose friendship touched many of us here in Geneva. He will continue to be celebrated for the skills, wisdom, and patience with which he conducted himself as President of the Trade and Development Board of UNCTAD and as Chair of the Group of Least Developed Countries. I hope that you will join us today in celebrating the life of our dear Friend and colleague.

5. The Group of 77 and China would like to reiterate its condolences to Ambassador Aparr’s family and to our brothers and sisters of the Uganda Mission. They can count on our support to build on his legacy.

Mr. President,

6. The Group of 77 and China would like to assure you of its collaborative and supportive spirit and availability to be of assistance in ensuring the success of your tenure. Your tenure has come at such a time when UNCTAD has been preparing for, among others, UNCTAD’s Fifteenth Ministerial Conference to be held in Barbados, originally in the latter part of this year, and now moved to 2021. It is therefore a privilege for us to be able to tap on your diplomatic experience and learn from your stewardship in shaping the outcome documents of UNCTAD 15 Ministerial Conference in the spirit of leaving no country or person behind.

Mr. President,

7. To conclude, the Group of 77 and China wishes to reiterate its congratulations and support to you and the new Bureau of the Board and wish you great success in this new role.

I thank you, Mr. President.