Userping world leaders to rethink the development of landlocked nations, the UN chief said: “We are now meeting to reaffirm a fundamental truth: Geography should never define fate. “”
According to the United Nations Development Program, 32 landlocked developing countries (Lldcs) in the world, 16 are in Africa, 10 in Asia, four in Europe and two in Latin America. Together, they house more than 500 million people.
Commercial barriers, distress of debt and deep inequality
Mr. Guterres described the “intimidating challenges” that the LLDCs continue to cope – from high barriers to trade, high transport costs and limited access to global markets. He warned that the debt burden of these countries had reached “dangerous and unsustainable levels”.
Although the LLDC represent seven% of the world’s population, they represent just over one percent of world economic production and trade. “This is a brutal example of deep inequalities that perpetuate marginalization,” said the secretary general, attributing it to “an unjust global economic and financial architecture which does not reflect the realities of the interconnected world of today”, as well as to the legacy of colonialism.
Decades of ambition: the Awaza action program
The task before the conference, known as the name LLDC3 And running in Awaza until Friday is to find solutions to these challenges.
“LLDC3 consists of launching a new decade of ambition – through the Awaza action program And its deliverables – and fully unlock the development potential of developing countries without coastline, “said Mr. Guterres.
Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2024, this action plan represents a global commitment renewed and strengthened to support the development aspirations of the LLDC.
Four Progress priorities
The secretary general described four key priorities:
- Accelerate economic diversification and digital transformation
• Invest in value added industries, local innovation and inclusive growth.
• Throw the digital ditch to unlock AI, electronic commerce and intelligent logistics. - Strengthen trade, transit and regional connectivity
• Improve infrastructure and simplify cross -border procedures.
• Integrate LLDC into global value chains and reform commercial systems. - Advance of action and climate resilience
• Double adaptation funding and build an infrastructure resilient to the climate.
• Support LLDC in green transitions with technology and partnerships. - Mobilize funding and partnerships
• Reform global financial systems to ensure fair and accessible funding.
• Failure of concessional finance and unlock climate investment at high speed.
“The success of landlocked developing countries is essential to the success of the 2030 agenda“, Underlined Mr. Guterres.
“We have knowledge, and we have the tools … Together, we can transform the geography of a barrier into a bridge – connecting not only the markets, but the peoples and cultures that give meaning to development.”
Talk to journalists Later, Mr. Guterres stressed that the conference reflects a new era of cooperation taking shape through Central Asia – a property based on mutual trust, shared priorities and increasing regional solidarity.
“At a time when multilateral cooperation is tested, this spirit of partnership is more essential than ever,” he said.
Regional challenges, global solidarity
The session has opened its doors with the reception of the president of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, who underlined national initiatives to strengthen international cooperation in health care, climate action and environmental protection.
He also drew attention to regional challenges such as drying the Aral Sea and waterfall levels in the Caspian Sea, which is the largest closed water in the world and the framework of the third LLDC one.
In his remarks, a President of the General Assembly Philemon Yang noted “the deadline to approach quickly for the 2030 agenda” and called for a decisive action and a renewed commitment to multilateralism and fundamental values.
He pointed out that the three pillars of Charter of the United Nations – Peace, development and human dignity – must remain at the heart of all efforts, and that actions must reflect the promise of leaving no one behind.
Noting the vulnerability of the LLDC to climate change and structural challenges, Mr. Yang said that these countries “never had to lack access to opportunities, prosperity or hope” and called for international solidarity, the investment of infrastructure and the practical realization of freedom of transit.
He also announced that the General Assembly had proclaimed on August 6 as the International Awareness Day to Development Countries without coastline, to observe each year.
“The General Assembly will continue to serve as a global platform in support of these countries,” he said, stressing the importance of monitoring the Awaza action program and preparing its high-level examination in 2029.
Transform vulnerability into opportunity
Also addressing the opening session, Lok Bahadur Thapa, President of the UN Economic and social councilsaid LLDC3 is “a central moment” for the 32 landlocked nations which endeavor to overcome structural obstacles to development.
Originally from Nepal, which is both landlocked and the least developed, he stressed that the Awaza action program must serve as a “plan of fatty, ambitious, exploitable and future” to transform the vulnerability into opportunity for more than 570 million people.
Thapa underlined the urgency of dealing with the “growing complexity, scale and emergency” of the challenges facing the LLDC, including the distress of debt, climatic impacts and infrastructure gaps. Mr. Thapa has urged the creation of an infrastructure investment installation for LLDC, as well as climate finance on a scale, increased concessional resources and accelerated technology transfer.
He also underlined the importance of regional cooperation and sustainable transport, praised the leadership of Turkmenistan and reaffirmed Ecosoc’s commitment to advance the Awaza action program – undertaking to integrate LLDC priorities such as food security, empowerment of young people and climate awareness of all ecosoc discussions and processes.
LLDC3 continues tomorrow, Wednesday, August 6, with round tables and events on a range of subjects, including connectivity and transport, South-South cooperation, young people and more. Find all our cover here.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
