Distinguished Co-Chairs and the members of the LDC 5 PrepCom bureau;
Mr. Courtenay Rattray, Under Secretary-General and High Representative for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS and Secretary General of the LDC 5 conference;
Excellencies and Distinguished Colleagues,

I have the honor to deliver these remarks on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

I would like to begin by thanking the Co-Chairs for convening this meeting. I also commend both the Co-chairs and their teams for leading the work of the first PrepCom in an efficient and effective manner.

I would further like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Courtenay Rattray for assuming the responsibility of the USG and High Representative of the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS as well as Secretary General of LDC5.

Excellencies,

The LDCs remain a crucial part of the 2030 Agenda and the sustainable development journey as they represent the change and progress that needs to occur for this agenda to be successful. In that respect this programme of Action is a crucial component in ensuring that the LDCs successfully obtain sustainable development.

The group welcomes the text and is comfortable with the structure and the flow of the text and looks forward to engaging with colleagues to ensure successful and consensual conclusion of the text by the end of the year.

We note the importance of prioritizing constructive engagement in the negotiations and keeping our focus on a text that ensures the most dynamic and substantive outcome to the advantage of the LDCs.

Excellencies,

The draft Program of Action’s six key focus areas for Action as follows: –

I. Investing in people in LDCs: Eradicating poverty and building capacity to leave no one behind
II. Leveraging the power of science, technology, and innovation to fight against multidimensional vulnerabilities and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals
III. Structural transformation as a driver of prosperity
IV. Enhancing International trade of least developed countries and regional integration
V. Addressing climate change, recovering from COVID-19 pandemic, and building resilience against future shocks??
VI. Mobilizing international solidarity, reinvigorated global partnerships and?innovative tools for risk-informed sustainable development – A march towards sustainable graduation.

Represent the length and breadth of the necessary ingredients in the form of deliverables to propel LDCs’ sustainable development forward and immensely contribute to the overarching objective of the 2030 Agenda to leave no one behind.

Excellencies,

As we prepare for the Second Prep Comm and the beginning of the informals, the group commits to constructive engagement and looks forward to the successful conclusion of this process and to a successful meeting at Doha 22.

I thank you all.