(1st meeting) Sixteenth session of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM)

Good morning, dear colleagues. I call to order the first meeting of the 16th session of the Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management. I am Deirdre Delpiaz Bishop from the United States of America, co-chair of the 15th session of the Committee of Experts. To my right, we have Ms. Bjorg Sandkjar, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Mr. Bernardo Mariano, Jr., Assistant Secretary-General and Chief Information Technology Officer of the United Nations Office of Information and Communications Technology. Mr. Shantanu Mukherjee, Acting General of the United Nations Statistics Division. and Director of the Economic Analysis and Policy Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. And Mr. Josep Parareda Masnou, Chief of the Geospatial Information Section, Technology Operations Service in the Operations Support Division in the United Nations Office of Information and Communications Technology. To my left, we have the Secretary of the Committee, Ms. Claudia Gross. My fellow co-chairs of the 15th session, Mr. Mohammed Yahya Al-Sayel of Saudi Arabia and Mr. Clinton ***** of South Africa, as well as the rapporteur of the 15th session, Ms. Meziann Hicks of Fiji. I warmly welcome everyone to the 16th session of the Committee of Experts, and I look forward to a productive session of the committee. I have the honor to invite Ms. Bjorg Sankar, Assistant Secretary General for Policy Coordination in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs to make a statement.

Thank you very much, Chair. Good morning, Excellencies, Co-Chairs of the Committee. of experts of global geospatial information management, DGIM, distinguished delegates, observers, representatives of the global geospatial information community. And I would like to also say, dear colleagues, it gives me great pleasure this morning to address you at the opening of this 16th session of the Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management. We do meet at a strategically important moment for the geospatial community. Here at the UN, we are working to accelerate progress towards the sustainable development goals while looking ahead to sustainable development priorities beyond 2030. And geospatial information, including earth observations, is crucial to both of those. We also see how the pace of the digital transformation is accelerating. Artificial intelligence, advanced analytics and new information sources are shaping how we understand our world, how we design policies, how we adapt to challenges and how we deliver services. Amid such change, trusted and authoritative geospatial information has a crucial role to play. Because development outcomes have geographic locations. Poverty, hunger, disease, environmental degradation, displacement, disasters are human experiences that are rooted in specific communities and places. When decision makers understand not only what is happening, but where it is happening, who is affected, and how conditions differ across places, their interventions can be much more effective. When we talk about the sustainable development goals, we say that we want to leave no one behind, but leaving no one behind may often mean leaving no place behind. And when geospatial information is better integrated with official statistics, administrative data and other sources, its value for granular and timely monitoring makes it uniquely suited to helping define the post 2030 sustainable development agenda. So distinguished delegates. The Committee of Experts has established a clear strategic direction for 2025 to 2030, guided by a vision of geospatial information helping to resolve sustainable development challenges across different geographic scales. The vision is bold and it is timely. So I would like to encourage the committee to continue positioning geospatial information as a foundational component of modern public digital infrastructure, and especially when integrated into the wider data ecosystem as an essential source of evidence and action for sustainable development. Dear colleagues, there does remain a significant divide across countries in the capacities to access and work with geospatial information. So I would also like to commend you for leading global efforts to bridge this geospatial digital divide guided by the committee's frameworks and recommendations. Connecting the committee's normative work with knowledge exchange, with peer learning, with technical assistance and national implementation remains essential. And I commend the regional committees for translating that global guidance into regional and national action and the UN Global Geospatial Centres of Excellence for providing important expertise, innovation and capacity development support. Let me also invite you to engage fully with the wider United Nations system where geospatial expertise is embedded across many policy domains. It could be agriculture, health, climate change, education, urban planning, economic development, marine protection and biodiversity. Together, we need to develop the guidance, the methods, the tools and the knowledge needed to support national geospatial capacity for improving lives. Ladies and gentlemen, later this year, the third United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress will be convened in Jeddah from the 16th to the 19th of November by the United Nations and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. with the theme navigating the next Frontier embracing the digital Renaissance and a new geospatial paradigm the Congress will be an important opportunity to look beyond present systems and to consider how integrated geospatial knowledge information and infrastructure can support a more inclusive resilient and sustainable future I hope to see many of you there and I look forward to your advancing its ambitious agenda. Now, here in New York over the next three days, I look forward to thoughtful and forward-looking deliberations and to practical action. I encourage your wholehearted engagement in these discussions. On our part, DESA stands ready to continue to support the Committee in advancing its work programme, strengthening national capacities and ensuring that geospatial information contributes fully to national priorities, sustainable development and well-being for all. With that, I wish you a very successful 16th session.

Thank you.

I thank the Assistant Secretary General for Policy Coordination. The support that she expressed for our work is truly valued and much appreciated. I now have the honor to invite Mr. Bernardo Mariano Jr., Assistant Secretary General and Chief Information Technology Officer of the Office of Information and Communications Technology to make a statement.

Thank you, Madam Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues. As Bjorn said, it's an honor to open this 16th session of the Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management at the moment where international community is committed into actions of the pact of the future. Two years ago, in September 2024, world leaders adopted the Pact for the Future and its Digital Compact. The Digital Compact is a shared recognition that digital technologies are reshaping every dimension of public life, and also a shared resolve to close that digital divide rather than widen it. And this digital compact calls explicitly for development of a digital public infrastructure grounded on national priorities and needs. And this committee long understood that it needs to execute, implement, and to ensure that Credibility of a digital public infrastructure without geospatial information, it's basically not implementing that digital compact. So the foundational need, role of geospatial information is key. Every service governments deliver somewhere, it has a location, be it a land issue, clinic, flood warnings, broadcast, this location, location, and location. Location is not just a technical add-on into public administration. It's an organizing logic of it. With geospatial information, we need to ensure that, first of all, it's interoperable, it's accessible across entities, and across partners. it becomes what the statistical and connectivity infrastructure already are, foundational national public good. Maybe I should say foundational global public good, once built and reused everywhere, from disaster response to fiscal planning, including to deliver sustainable development goals as Bjorn mentioned in his speech. That's why the work of this committee is not just a technical sideline of the pact of the future. It is the part of how the pact gets implemented. Therefore, through the United Nations Integrated Geospatial Information Framework, jointly with the UN Statistical Commission and the Global Statistical Geospatial Framework, countries should and must benefit from the guidance that this group provides to advance that geospatial information management. Let me tell you about perhaps my dream about what it is that in the future, hopefully in the Congress in Jeddah, the future of GIS includes that as well. In the next decade, geospatial information management should become the real-time digital nervous system of society. I repeat, real-time digital nervous system of society, integrating earth, air, space, cyberspace, even the moon or Mars. The rapid deployment of low orbit satellites, constellations such as Starlink, Amazon, Leo and others is one of the major catalysts for this transformation. And I hope in the next Congress, as well as here, we start also discuss about the future of GIS, which should include satellite trajectories, orbital constellations, debris fields, spectral utilization, space weather, lunar infrastructure to name a few. And these, for those, I mean, a long time in this business, by the way, I'm Mozambican and I started working United Nations back in 1993 in my own country. What got me a job in United Nations to be here today actually was the GIS because I just designed a simple database called D base. I programmed using Clipper, people entered the data, and I used the mapping info to connect the D base with the maps, and I provided the report, and everybody was impressed. And that got me the job that I'm here today. So these transformations represent this shift from 2D to 3D, but also to a 4D and 5D in the future, and GIS is this foundational element there. So I hope that over the coming days, I look forward to hear more from your proceedings on how we need to collectively advance both your frameworks, the standards, and make your special function as an integrated and essential part of digital public infrastructure, reliable, shareable, built to last. And we need to advance that collectively for the people and for the planet. So with that, I wish you a very successful deliberations. And I want to thank all of you for coming all the way from different countries. I understand almost 84 countries taking away times that you would do something else to be here. and to discuss this foundational piece for the path of the future, for the global digital compact, and for humanity, the planet, and for all of us. Thank you.

I thank the Assistant Secretary General and Chief Information Technology Officer of the Office of Information and Communications Technology. The support that he expressed for our work is truly valued and much appreciated. And on behalf of the entire UNGGIM Committee of Experts, I'd like to say thank you and how wonderful it is to be surrounded by leaders who truly understand and get our world. Thank you. Allow me now to say a few words on behalf of the Bureau of the 15th session. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues, and friends, as noted by our assistant secretary generals, we meet at a significant moment. The multilateral system is changing before our eyes. Assumptions once considered settled are being questioned. Instructions, institutions are being asked to do more, respond faster and demonstrate their value more clearly. And yet here, countries with different histories, priorities and capacities come together. Not because cooperation is easy, but because the challenges set before us cannot be solved by any country acting alone. Here we demonstrate multilateralism at its most practical. building trust, as we talked about yesterday, agreeing on common principles, and bringing coherence to the global geospatial agenda. This is humanity at its best. Institutions are, in many ways, society's collective memory. They preserve knowledge, establish trust, and provide continuity beyond any one government project or technological cycle. Good governance is therefore not simply about maintaining order. It is about knowing which walls are load bearing, where doors must be open, and where bridges must be built. Geospatial information is one of those bridges. It connects information about our environment, our population, our health, our infrastructure, and the risks confronting our communities. It helps us understand not only what's happening, but where it is happening, who is affected, and where action is most urgently needed. Geospatial information is no longer simply a backdrop to decision making. It is becoming part of the foundation upon which every critical decision is made. But a map is not a policy. A data set does not appropriate a budget. A model does not strengthen a building, protect a coastline, or deploy a rescue system. Turning knowledge into resilience requires more than technology. It requires leadership. Our scientists and technical experts can show us where the risks lie and what the evidence demands. But if that knowledge remains within the technical community, we will have confused insight with impact. We must build a stronger bridge between technical expertise and political decision making, transforming that knowledge into policy, policy into investment, and investment into action. For most of human history, maps have carried us toward the unknown. They help us cross oceans, connect societies, and understand the world beyond the horizon. The history of humanity is on the timeline of exploration, and this is what's next. The next frontier is not an empty space on the map. It is our ability to understand the world as a connected system, to bring together authoritative information, emerging technologies, and human judgment, to govern artificial intelligence responsibly, and to anticipate change before it becomes a crisis. We've never possessed more powerful tools for understanding our planet. But power without governance will not deliver progress. Innovation without inclusion will not deliver equality. And information without action will not secure our future. We cannot settle for isolated islands of resilience in an ocean of vulnerability. Through genuine partnership, We must build resilience across borders, institutions, and communities, ensuring that no person, no place, and no community is left behind. That is the opportunity before the 16th session of the Committee of Experts. Our message is simple, even if the work is not. With the right knowledge, the courage to cooperate, and determination to act, we can meet our national priorities while advancing the common good. Our responsibility now is to turn data into understanding, understanding into decisions, and decisions into a better future. As the Assistant Secretary shared his dream to make geospatial data and all society data the real-time nervous system of our society. Thank you. I understand the Assistant Secretary General for Policy Coordination in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the Assistant Secretary General and Chief Information Technology Officer of the United Nations Office of Information and Communications Technology have to leave us due to other urgent matters. I thank them once again for joining us today at the opening of our session. Thank you. Thank you so much.

Thank you.

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I now invite the committee to take up agenda item one entitled election of officers. In accordance with rule seven of its rules of procedure, the committee shall elect three co-chairs and a rapporteur during each session from among its members with due regard for equitable geographical rotation of these officers from amongst the regions. May I now invite nominations for these posts of officers? I give the floor to the representative of Belgium.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Belgium nominates Mr. Mohammed Yahya Al-Sayel of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Clinton Hayman of South Africa, Ms. Daidre Talpias Bishop of the United States of America as co-chairs, and Ms. Maisie-Anne Hicks of Fiji as rapporteur of the Committee of Experts for its 16th session.

I thank the representative of Belgium. I give the floor to the representative of Indonesia.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Indonesia seconds the nomination by the distinguished representative of Belgium and requests the nomination closed.

I thank the representative of Indonesia. May I take it that the committee wishes to reelect by acclamation Mr. Mohammed Yahya Alsayal of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Clinton ***** of South Africa, myself, Ms. Deirdre Delpiaz Bishop of the United States of America as co-chairs, and Ms. Meziann Hicks of Fiji as rapporteur of the committee at its 16th session. I hear no objection. It is so decided. On behalf of the committee, I warmly congratulate Mr. Mohammed Yahya Al-Sayal of Saudi Arabia and Mr. Clinton ***** of South Africa on their reelection as co-chairs. and Ms. Meziyen Hicks of Fiji on her re-election as rapporteur of the Committee of Experts at its 16th session. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow Bureau members of the 15th session for their hard work, dedication and invaluable contribution to the preparations for this session and look forward to continuing working with them. I now have the pleasure of inviting my fellow co-chair, Mr. Mohammed Yaya Alsayel, to say a few words. You have the floor. Mr. Mohammed, will you please adjust your microphone? Thank you.

Distinguished guests, Distinguished delegates, Excellency, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, it's a great honor to serve as a co-chair for the 16th session of the United Nations GGIM. I thank the member states for their trust and looking forward to working closely with the secretariats, the bureau, and all member states to advance our shared objectives. As you special technology, artificial intelligence and innovation continue to evolve the offer a great opportunities to support sustainable development through UN GGI. We will continue strengthening global cooperation and supporting member states implementing the United Nations Integrated Geospatial Framework, UNIGIF, and advancing connected global geospatial ecosystem. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Nations GGIM Secretariats, and the outgoing chairs of their continuing support and leadership. Finally, I warmly invite to join us in the third United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from the 16th to the 19th of November, 2026. I wish you all productive and successful session. Thank you very much.

I thank my fellow co-chair. I now have the pleasure of inviting my other fellow co-chair, Mr. Clinton ***** to say a few words. You have the floor.

Distinguished colleagues, thank you for the confidence you have placed in myself and South Africa in re-electing me as the co-chair of the 16th session. I am deeply appreciative of your support and conscious of the responsibility that comes with it. The Committee's strength lies in the experience, commitment and collective leadership of its Member States. I look forward to continuing this work with my fellow Co-Chairs, the Bureau, the Secretariat and colleagues across all regions. There is important work that lies ahead in this intersessional period. leading to the next session, and I remain fully committed to serving the committee and advancing our shared priorities. Thank you.

I thank my fellow co-chair. I now invite our rapporteur of the 16th session of this committee, Ms. Meziene Hicks, to say a few words. When it turns red, it'll be ready.

Thank you, Chair. I'd like to thank this esteemed committee for entrusting the role of rapporteur once again to me. And I wish everyone well for the discussions that will take place over these next few days. Thank you, Chair.

I thank our rapporteur. The committee has thus concluded its consideration of agenda item one.

Thank you, Chair.

I now invite the committee to turn to agenda item two, entitled Adoption of the Agenda and Other Organizational Matters. The committee has before it the provisional agenda for this session contained in document E/C.20/2026/1. The proposed organization of work contained in document E/C.20/2026/3 and the list of entities invited to participate in this session as observers contained in document E/C.20/2026/CRP.1. I now give the floor to the Secretary of the Committee for additional information. Madam Secretary, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am happy to report that all summary reports for this session were issued as official documents on time in all languages. These documents are also available on the online United Nations official document system and on the UNGGIM website of the 16th session. On the UNGGIM website, you can also find diverse background documents related to each agenda item. To support our interpreters, it would be greatly appreciated if you could please send your statements in advance to e-statements@un.org with a copy to the substantive secretariat at frani@un.org. The statements will be posted in the UN journal unless you mark them clearly with only for interpretation. Those e-mail addresses are also published in the UN journal. Delegations who need help with e-statements are encouraged to approach secretariat staff in the conference room. Regarding the list of participants, please ensure that your delegation has been inscribed via e-delegate. That's a different registration than getting your grounds pass, so please liaise with your permanent mission. If you have any question, you can also contact the Secretariat or send an e-mail to the e-mail addresses indicated in the UN journal. The preliminary list of participants will be circulated tomorrow, 6 August, via e-delegate and posted on the website of the 16th session of GGIM. Delegations have then the possibility to add any further changes by 12:00 noon on Friday, 14 August 2026 for the permanent mission via e-delegate, please. Thank you, Madam Co-Chair.

I thank the Secretary. the committee will now consider the provisional agenda for the session contained in document e/c.20/2026/1 which was approved by the economic and social Council in its decision 2026/305 of the 10th of December 2025. May I take it that the committee wishes to adopt the provisional agenda as contained in E/C.20/2026/1? I hear no objection. It is so decided. I now invite the committee to turn to its proposed organization of work contained in document E/20/2026/1. E/C.20/2026/3. May I take it that the committee wishes to approve the draft organization of work contained in E/C.20/2026/3 on the understanding that further adjustments will be made as necessary in the course of this session? I hear no objection. It is so decided. I would now like to draw your attention to the conference room paper, E/C.20/2026/CRP.1, entitled Entities Invited to Participate in the Session as Observers, which has been uploaded on the Committee's website in line with past practice. May I take it that the committee wishes to invite the non-governmental organizations and other entities listed in this conference room paper to participate as observers in the work of the 16th session of the committee? I hear no objection. It is so decided. The committee has thus concluded its consideration of agenda item two. The committee will now begin its consideration of agenda item three entitled Enhancing Global Geospatial Information Management Arrangements. I invite Mr. Clinton ***** my fellow co-chair and Deputy Director General Spatial Planning and Land Use Management of South Africa to take the introducer seat on the podium. In connection with this item, the Committee has before it a note by the Secretariat entitled Enhancing Global Geospatial Information Management Arrangements, contained in the document E/C.20/2026/4 and its addendum. I now give the floor to Mr. Clinton ***** to introduce the document.

Thank you, Madam Co-Chair, distinguished representatives, delegates, observers and colleagues. It is my privilege to introduce the agenda item Enhancing Geospatial Information Management Arrangement. You have before you a report prepared by the Secretariat with the Bureau for consideration by the Committee of Experts. The Committee of Experts is invited to take note of this comprehensive report and provide its views on activities of the Bureau, the Expanded Bureau and the Secretariat in implementing strategic and practical actions to strengthen and enhance global geospatial information management arrangements with a particular focus on the Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nations Integrated Geospatial Information Framework. The report of the Bureau and the Secretariat provides an overview of the current challenges of the Secretariat, including the reduction of approved geospatial positions dedicated to the Committee and the imminent exhaustion of its extra-budgetary resources supporting the annual committee sessions and proceeding. The report before us highlights the progress made during the intercessional period in advancing the committee's strategic priorities aligned with its strategic framework 2025 to 2030. The priorities identified by the Bureau include the strengthening strategic oversight of the program program agenda and groups, positioning geospatial for sustainable development, updating its main frameworks, chief of which the United Nations integrated geospatial information framework, strengthening the engagement with a wider United Nations system to further anchor geospatial in global agendas, developing a structured multi-year program of work ensuring its primary responsibilities on developing global guidance, encouraging regional implementation, and organizational matters. Over the past year, important efforts have been undertaken to continuously strengthen the committee's institutional architecture, to improve coordination across functional groups, regional committees, thematic networks, and the United Nations Global Geospatial Centres. and reinforce collaboration with the wider United Nations system and international partners. These efforts seek not only to improve governance arrangements, but also to ensure that the Committee's normative work translates into practical implementation, strengthened national capabilities and measurable impact of Member States. I therefore invite delegates to consider the report and consider the points of discussion, including providing guidance on the Committee's strategic priorities for the future programme of work, acknowledge the impact of UN 80 initiative on the secretariat capacity, advise on mobilising extra budgetary resources to support participation by developing countries, encourage participation in the third United Nations geospatial information Congress in November 2026 and provide guidance on preparations for the eighth high level Forum on global geospatial information management in 2028 madam chair I thank you.

I thank Mr. ***** We will now take a five minute break for technical logistics. Please either rest here in the room or be back no later than five minutes. That will be 1120. So we resume in time. The meeting is suspended.

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Dear colleagues. Good morning, dear colleagues. Please return to your seats. The meeting is resumed. I will now open the floor for discussion on agenda item three. While recognizing the importance of interactive professional exchange, which is at the core of our work, I would like to urge all participants to remain mindful of our time constraint. Hence, and in keeping with best past practice, the time limit for statements in our interactive discussions is two minutes. The microphone will start blinking when 30 seconds are left. If you intend to make a statement on behalf of a group and in your national capacity, you are kindly requested to make them in one intervention and the time limit will be two plus two minutes, total of four minutes. For maximum utilization of our time, I appeal to all speakers to deliver shorter versions of their statements and to submit the full text to e-statements@un.org for posting in the UN journal. Please note that the technical system currently does not allow to change the nameplates of those member states who have not registered in the list of participants via eDelegate and have hence a generic nameplate to their country name. This is why we had the short break, but we will only be able to fix this problem during the lunch. If those countries like to take the floor, please press the microphone button and secretariat staff will collect your name. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United States.

Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. The United States supports the strategic direction and continued efforts of the Bureau, the expanded Bureau, and the Secretariat to strengthen global geospatial information management. We support the three-tier global capacity development approach and encourage continued collaborative efforts among regional committees, the United Nations Global Geospatial Centers of Excellence, and partner organizations. We note the importance of strengthening governance, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and improving strategic oversight across the committee's architecture. In this regard, we thank the United Kingdom for the high quality desk review for the first foundational step conducting a full review of the committee's governance and program of work. We recommend that review occur during the intersessional period of the 16th session. As the international community looks beyond 2030 agenda, The committee should strengthen its role as the United Nations authority on integrated geospatial information management and position itself as a technical partner of choice for geospatial monitoring and measuring progress. We encourage broad collaboration to ensure geospatial information is embedded in global development agendas and monitoring framework to support evidence-based decision making. Continued implementation and modernization of the United Nations integrated geospatial information framework, UN IGIF is central to this effort. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United States. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will speak in Arabic.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its appreciation to the Bureau and the expanded Bureau and the Secretariat for their continued efforts in strengthening the global geospatial information management arrangements, as well as efforts to implement Economic and Social Council resolution 2022/24. We also welcome the progress made in the implementation of the Commission's strategic framework for the period 2025 to 2030 and in the revision of the programme of action to ensure that it continues to keep pace with current and future global priorities. The Kingdom supports the Committee's focus on strengthening national geospatial capacities through integrated governance, sustainable capacity development, promoting regional engagement and strengthening cooperation across the UN system. We also stress the importance of maintaining the functions of the Secretariat as it plays a central role in supporting Member States and ensuring effective coordination of the implementation of the Committee's growing programme of work. The Kingdom affirms its continued commitment to supporting the work of the committee and contributing to the achievement of its objectives. In this context, the Kingdom is pleased to inform the committee that preparations to host the third UN World Conference on Geospatial Information to be held in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia from 16 to 19 November 26 are progressing well and according to plan. We look forward to welcoming Member States, regional commissions, thematic networks, members of the academia, and members of the private sector and other relevant entities to participate in this important global event in a way that contributes to enhancing international cooperation and advancing the process of geospatial information management at the global level. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Slovenia, seated in seat 2628.

Thank you, Madam Co-Chair. I will speak on behalf of UNJGM Europe Regional Committee. UNGDM Europe Regional Committee retreats the concern raised in our 13th plenary meeting regarding the resource constraints and staffing situation facing the Secretariat, including its unfilled posts and the fact that the Committee operates on almost zero budget. The European Regional Committee considers this a matter requiring continued attention from all Member States. We encourage Member States to make their permanent missions aware of the situation and to gain support to efforts to retain and fill these posts so that the Secretariat will be able to deliver on the Committee's programme of work. UNDG-M Europe welcomes the proposed review of the Committee's programme of work toward a multi-year structure with clearer prioritization of agenda items, We consider this a direct and necessary response to the resource constraints facing the Secretariat and ensure the committee's limited capacity is focused where it can have the greatest impact. UN-GIM Europe wish to highlight that the anchoring of geospatial information management into the broader frameworks of the United Nations is emerging as a consistent and strategically important theme across multiple stands of work, including under item 5, 9, 10 and 11 of this 16th session, and considers this anchoring work particularly in the context of the 2030 Agenda and future development frameworks to be priority focused of the next intercessional period rather than allowing it to progress in parallel and disconnected stands. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Slovenia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Uruguay.

Uruguay would like to thank the Secretariat for the report presented, uh, to help us, uh, advance in our discussions. We appreciate these efforts to have a new, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, look at the role that geospatial information can play as a strategic input for taking decisions nationally and globally in order to support development as part of the 2030 agenda and help to reduce social economic gaps. We understand that international cooperation and exchange of experiences are key tools to strengthen national capacities. In that spirit, Uruguay would like to highlight the work being carried out by the Ministry of National Defense through its specialized services in geographical information, scientific research, earth observation, as well as its participation in national geospatial cooperation and inter-institutional cooperation. Uruguay suggests promoting participation through the consolidation of the various national working groups and opening up those groups to other research institutes, public institutions and other institutions that are related to geospatial information. This approach will make it possible to strengthen geospatial governance of the country, extend national capacity and generate broader participation, interdisciplinary that is sustained. As an example of this national commitment, we wish to highlight that the Ministry of Housing and Territorial Planning presented the geospatial information infrastructure for territorial planning. EGOT, it's called, a tool designed to strengthen territorial management, improve access to geographical information, and promote data-driven decision-making throughout the country. This initiative reflects the importance that Uruguay attaches to institutional coordination and territorial planning as pillars of effective geospatial information management. We also wish to emphasize the work carried out with regard to spatial data infrastructure of Uruguay, emphasizing interoperability and institutional coordination as tools for strengthening territorial policies. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Uruguay. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Madam Chair, many thanks for the floor. My delegation congratulates you and other members of the Bureau on your election. The Islamic Republic of Iran thanks the Secretariat and the Bureau for their report. In the era of widening digital inequalities and increasing complex global challenges, a strong and coordinating United Nations role is essential to strengthening international cooperation. reinforce multilateralism and ensure equitable access to geospatial information and technologies. Without such cooperation, the digital divide will further widen inequalities, particularly for developing countries, and undermine progress towards sustainable development. Geospatial information is indispensable for disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, environmental protection, water management, and sustainable urban development. For disaster-prone countries like Iran, exposed to earthquake, droughts, floods, and sand and dust storms, timely and reliable geospatial data is particularly important. While recognizing the value of the report, we believe it could have more explicitly addressed the needs of developing countries, particularly in ensuring equitable access to just to geospatial technologies, financing and capacity building. We support a stronger coordination among member state, the United Nations system, regional commissions. as well as a coherence and demand-driven global capacity development program. At the same time, international cooperation in this field must fully respect national ownership, sovereignty, data governance, and the legal framework of member states. In concluding, Madam Chair, Iran remains committed to strengthening international cooperation so that geo-spatial information can effectively contribute to resilience, inclusive, and sustainable development. for all. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Canada.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Canada remains committed to working together with the Kingdom of Belgium, and we congratulate the French-speaking group on its recent achievements. The finalization of the UN IGIF documents is signed and contains the nine strategic pathways which will strengthen access to UN IGIF for French speakers throughout the world. Canada supports the terms of reference of the drafting team in order to ensure the continuity of this important initiative.

I thank the distinguished representative of Canada. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Chile.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will provide my statement in Spanish.

Chile takes note of the report and we appreciate the efforts of the Bureau, the expanded Bureau and the Secretariat to strengthen the work on global arrangements for geospatial information management, and we support the UN IGIF with regard to international cooperation and the renewal of the GGIM website, which will facilitate access to the outputs and frameworks of the committee. Chile considers a priority to continue to provide geospatial information and to provide digital infrastructure that is essential for sustainable development. In order to do this, it is essential to strengthen the implementation of UN IGIF and raise the awareness of national authorities with regard to its value and provide institutional financial support for its application. We also appreciate the goals of the UN 80 initiative, but we think it is essential that we strengthen mobilization of extra-budgetary resources, which will ensure the continuity of its programme of work and the effective participation of developing countries. Finally, we recognize the importance of the third global conference as a forum for strengthening international cooperation, and we propose moving towards a road map with specific action that will facilitate national implementation of the United Nations frameworks. And now I'd like to speak on behalf of UNGGIM Americas. UNGGIM Americas takes note of this report and welcomes the efforts of the Bureau, the expanded Bureau and the Secretariat to strengthen the Committee's programme of work and global arrangements for geospatial information management in support of the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN IGIF in accordance with resolution 2022-24. of ECOSOC. We take note of the impact of the UNAT initiative on the functioning of the Secretariat, as reflected in the reduction of geospatial positions supporting the Committee, the inability to recruit new staff and the depletion of extra-budgetary resources available to support the annual session and related activities. In this regard, we reiterate the urgency of and the priority of safeguarding the secretariat positions dedicated to supporting the committee's programme of work. UNGGIM Americas welcomes the proposals and priorities identified by the Bureau and the expanded Bureau to strengthen the Committee's programme of work, particularly the updating of global frameworks, enhanced coordination across the United Nations system, the development of a multi-year programme of work and the regional implementation approach outlined in the report. In this regard, we fully support the need and urgency to strengthen the participation of Member States from the regional committees in the committees' functional groups and expert bodies. To advance this objective, we consider it essential that national focal points establish effective communication and coordination mechanisms within their respective countries to ensure that the priorities and components of the global geospatial agenda are widely disseminated and known amongst the various stakeholders making up the geospatial community. This will foster broader, more diverse and more meaningful regional participation in these fora. Finally, UNGGIM Americas takes note of the ongoing preparations for the third United Nations World Congress on Geospatial Information. and expresses its appreciation to the JOC team of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its outstanding efforts in organizing this important global event. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Chile. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Japan. Please wait until the microphone turns red. Just give it a second. There you go.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Despite the ongoing financial difficulties and continued hiring freeze, Japan would like to express its profound respect for the Secretary's dedication and leadership. Japan would like to express our profound respect for the efforts of the parties involved in the operation of UNGGCE and UNGGKIC. Japan would like to continue to contribute to the transparent and inclusive activity of the centers that enable the meaningful participation of a wide range of stakeholders. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Japan. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Indonesia, seated in seat 2652.

Thank you, Madam Co-Chair. Indonesia appreciate the Bureau, expanded Bureau, the Secretariat for strengthening global geospatial information management. We support recognizing authoritative geospatial information as foundational digital public infrastructure and a key enabler of sustainable development. The committee should demonstrate more clearly how geospatial information improves policy decisions, public investment and monitoring towards 2030 and beyond. Indonesia also supports a coherent, demand-driven and adequately resourced global capacity development programme implemented with regional committees, United Nations global geospatial centers and development partners. Given the committee's expanding responsibilities and the implication of the UNAT initiative, sufficient secretariat capacity and predictable support are essential, particularly for the meaningful participation of developing countries. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Indonesia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Australia.

Thank you, Chair.

Australia commends the Bureau, expanded Bureau, and the Secretariat for this comprehensive report. Australia acknowledges the effort invested by the Bureau to prioritize the work of UNGGIM and supports further strategic review for.

Additional prioritization.

Australia recognizes that opportunities to improve recognition of the role of geospatial information are important, but UNGGIM needs to focus its limited resources on an achievable work plan. Australia remains committed to the multilateral system as it anchors our sovereignty, agency, and prosperity.

While Australia supports the ambitious UN reform, including the UN Secretary General's UNAT initiative.

Australia acknowledges the considerable impact of UNAT initiative and increasing need for additional resources to meet.

The demands of the work program.

Australia supports administrative efficiencies to ensure UN resources are directed where they are needed most.

Australia supports the proposed.

Preparation method for the eighth high level forum on global geospatial information management to be convened in 2028. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Australia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Russian Federation notes with appreciation the comprehensive report and welcomes the program priorities, the relevant agenda items, and the key elements of the forthcoming work discussed by the Bureau, the Extended Bureau, and the Secretariat. We also note with particular appreciation the preparatory activities for convening the third United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress and express our gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for hosting the Congress and we encourage Member States to actively participate in and contribute to its work. The Russian Federation shares serious concerns regarding the impact of UN-80 initiative on the Secretariat's staffing capacity. In this regard, the Russian Federation proposes that the Bureau, the Extended Bureau and the Secretariat consider inter alia involving on a voluntary basis experts from Member States in the work of the Extended Bureau. These experts could support analytical work and the coordination of specific work streams, including in the context of the decision to initiate a stocktaking of governance and coordination arrangements. Such a voluntary mechanism could help reduce the current workload of the Secretariat linked with these tasks while preserving the intergovernmental character of the Committee's work. We also encourage Member States where resources permit to consider hosting meetings of the Committee's thematic and functional groups, as well as organizing seminars on the Committee's agenda, including such seminars on the margins of national geospatial conferences or in virtual formats. The Russian Federation supports the proposed three tier approach to the global national capacity development program. Within the tier related to knowledge sharing, we consider it important to devote particular attention to collecting and disseminating national good practices and use cases in implementing various normative frameworks endorsed by the committee as implementation itself is a key transformational mechanism. In this regard, the Russian Federation informs the Committee that the country report on geospatial information management in the Russian Federation has been prepared and submitted for the 16th session. The report provides an overview of national institutional arrangements, the ecosystem of national information systems and digital services, international cooperation and education. It also reflects ongoing efforts to modernize geodesic infrastructure, develop national mapping, and strengthen interagency coordination. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of India.

Thank you, Chair. India appreciates the Bureau, expanded Bureau, and the Secretariat for the comprehensive report and their continued efforts in implementing ECOSOC resolution 2022 by 2024 and advancing the committee's strategic framework 2025 to 2030. We support the ongoing strategic review and the committee's efforts to further strengthen global geospatial information management arrangements. As the world prepares for the next global development agenda beyond 2030, India believes that the geospatial information must continue to be recognized as critical digital infrastructure for sustainable development, climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, and evidence-based policymaking. We also welcome the proposal for a coherent global program on national capacity development, encompassing institutional strengthening, knowledge exchange, standards and implementation support. At the national level, India remains committed to implementing the National Geospatial Policy 2022. Our key initiatives include modernizing the National Geodetic Reference Framework, developing a custodianship based national geodetic geospatial data governance framework, preparing India's UN IGIF country action plan and customizing the global statistical geospatial framework to strengthen integration of geospatial and statistical information. India also believes that trusted, authoritative, interoperable and AI-ready geospatial data will be fundamental to digital public infrastructure and AI-enabled public services. We also welcome the preparations for the third United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress in Jeddah, and encourage broad participation by member states. India looks forward to contribute actively to the Congress and supports the initiation of preparations for the eighth high level forum on global geospatial information management in 2028. We remain committed to working with member states to strengthen global geospatial cooperation and advance sustainable development. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of India. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Denmark.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Denmark welcomes the report and thanks the Bureau, the expanded Bureau, and the Secretariat for their continued efforts to strengthen global geospatial information management arrangements. We support a sharper and more coherent programme of work with clear governance, stronger strategic oversight and clearer prioritisation of agenda items, as well as a sustained focus on geospatial information as foundational digital public infrastructure for sustainable development and post-2030 agenda. We also encourage this prioritisation to be reflected in the number and length of documents prepared for the Committee. Late availability of documents limits the delegates' abilities to prepare adequately and we therefore encourage earlier publication and more concise reporting. Denmark notes that the growing responsibilities associated with the coordination and governance of the United Nations Global Geospatial Centres further demonstrates the need for strong secretariat capacity. The centers provide important operational resources but cannot substitute for the secretariat's normative intergovernmental and oversight functions. Denmark remains deeply concerned about the secretariat's resource situation. The reduction to four unfilled professional geospatial positions, the continued inability to recruit and the imminent exhaustion of extra budgetary resources place both the committee's normative work and its operations at risk. We therefore urge member states and the United Nations system to safeguard and staff the required posts and to mobilize sustainable supplementary resources. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Denmark. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba.

Madam co-chair, We thank you for organizing this meeting of the government experts on management of geospatial information. This is something that Cuba considers particularly important. Since 2014, the Geodesy Office has been seeing active involvement of Cuba, working together with UN experts on the management of spatial information in the segment for the Americas. On the basis of the experience that we have achieved in these fora, and given what we have achieved in these various organisations, Cuba has deployed actions to implement the resolutions issued by these bodies in the interests of increasing access and use of geospatial information for sustainable development, focusing on the protection of the environment and disaster management and territorial planning. It is unfortunate that the Cuban expert to this committee from our National Institute was not able to participate in this meeting given to the fact that he wasn't granted a corresponding visa despite the efforts of the Secretariat to ensure logistically that he could participate in this meeting. The visa issues continue to affect the participation of Member States who should be on an equal footing at United Nations meetings and therefore affect our ability to represent ourselves and to affect inclusiveness. In conclusion, we will continue to make our contribution to this collective effort. We're convinced that international cooperation is essential to move towards societies that are more resilient and sustainable. You can count on our availability to continue to participate in the debates of this meeting session. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cuba. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Argentina.

Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Argentina takes note of the current report and we would like to thank the Bureau, Expanded Bureau and the Secretariat for the efforts undertaken in this area during the last intersessional period. Argentina is concerned to see the budgetary challenges that the Secretariat is facing and we would state the importance of mobilising resources that will make it possible to provide adequate support to the Committee. in this challenging environment. We welcome the coordination activities that have been carried out and we very much appreciate the sustained work that has been done. The communication has played an essential role and that's why Argentina welcomes these efforts that have been made with regard to improving the website of the Committee as a fundamental platform for communication for the geospatial international community. Argentina welcomes the strengthening and prioritization of the work of the Committee, particularly with regard to the frameworks, strengthening participation with the broader UN system and the regional committees. With regard to the programme to develop capacities, we welcome the progress made there and we also encourage Member States to locally add to the three levels proposed by the conceptual part of the programme through creating adequate conditions in our local ecosystems to maximize the effects of the global programme and respond autonomously to the United Nations system. For this it's essential that we have mobilization of local resources to produce synergy that will help us to capitalize on global efforts. And finally, Argentina takes note of the preparatory activities for the holding of the third global conference on geospatial information of the United Nations organized by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, and we would like to congratulate the host country. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Argentina. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of South Africa.

Thank you, Madam Chair. South Africa takes note of the report and appreciates the efforts of the Bureau, the expanded Bureau, and the Secretariat in implementing strategic plan to strengthen and enhance global geospatial information management arrangements. The strategic framework provides an important foundation, but its success will depend on a focused program of work, adequate Secretariat support, and tangible benefits for member states. South Africa supports safeguarding the Secretariat Specialist Geospatial Function as part of the UNAT reforms. We also emphasize the urgent need to mobilize additional extra budgetary resources to support the effective operations of the Committee. South Africa acknowledges the leadership of the Co-Chairs and appreciate the support provided by the Secretariat during the intersessional period. These efforts are important in advancing geospatial information as a key enabler of sustainable development and ensuring that the committee's work remain responsive to the needs and priorities of all member states, particularly developing countries. South Africa welcomes the third United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress and look forward to contributing to discussions on the next geospatial paradigm. the responsible use of emerging technologies and the future development agenda. We encourage early preparations for the 2028 high level forum and propose that its agenda be incurred in measurable implementation outcomes with a clear focus on demonstrating tangible progress and impact at the national and regional levels. I thank you Madam Chair. I will now deliver a statement on behalf of UNGGM Africa. UNGGM Africa takes note of the report and support a focus member state led program of work that positions geospatial information as essential public infrastructure for sustainable development. The committee strategic framework will only succeed if the global norms are meshed by practical implementation support at national and regional levels. For UNGGM Africa, three matters require emphasis. First, the capacity of the secretariat to perform the committee's work, committee's normative and implementation function must be protected. Any restructuring under the UN aid initiative should preserve the specialist, your special capacity required to serve member state equitably. Second, the committee needs a sustainable resource model. Extra budgetary resources should support country level implementation, regional coordination and the participation of developing nations in annual sessions with clear geographic balance and accountability. Third, future priorities should be disciplined. The implementation of the UNIGIF, the global geodetic reference frame, the GSJF, the FELA should remain central. UNGGM Africa welcomes the third UN United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress and call for strong African participation including policy leaders, national geospatial and statistical authorities, academia, youth and private sector. As the UNGGM Africa, we encourage early preparations of the 2028 high level forum and propose that its agenda be anchored in measurable implementation outcomes. I thank you Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of South Africa. I would like to thank all of the distinguished delegates for your valuable interventions thus far. We are running a bit behind schedule, and the list of those wishing to speak is long. I would kindly remind you to limit your interventions to no more than two minutes, and shorter if possible. I would like to remind you to send your statements to e-statements@un.org. And I would like to thank Madam Secretary for her diligence in ensuring that each speaker is associated between the correct member state and the correct seat location. We know how important location is. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Austria, seated in seat 2645.

Dear Madam Chair, dear colleagues, Austria repeatedly takes note of the impact of the UNAT initiative on the workload of the Bureau, the expanded Bureau and the Secretariat for the coordination and support of the expert group. We are still confident that further activities on strengthening global geospatial information arrangements and creating more visibility within the changing geospatial landscape will support the filling of vacant positions and recognition of an appropriate budget. Austria recommends evaluating different UN locations, e.g. like the UN location in Vienna as a base for the UN GGIM team, its activities and meetings, in order to optimize economic value and pragmatic importance for the work of the committee of experts. The fast developing impact of AI and its effects on society urgently requires globally consolidated arrangements and governance by the committee of experts these actions are specially guided by geospatial experts of the Secretariat thank you very much for your intention

I thank the distinguished representative of Austria seated in seat 2645 I also thank the sound engineer and DESA staff for helping us with the locations of these seats. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Norway.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Norway takes note of the report. Norway commends the Bureau and the Secretariat for their efforts given the constraints imposed by available resources. Norway welcomes the work towards a multi-year program of work and believes that this should be reflected in the organization of the committee's annual sessions. As pointed out during last year's session, the number of substantive agenda items and discussion points appears to be beyond what can realistically be addressed during a three-day session. Norway encourage the Bureau to identify a more suitable way of organizing the work of the 17th session, taking into account the number of participating Member States and observers, including through a clearer distinction between items for discussion and items for information. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Norway. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of France.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will now switch to French.

France thanks the Bureau and the Secretariat for its report, and we support the priorities strengthened to, to strengthen geospatial information systems for sustainable development. We underscore the growing importance of environmental challenges and climate challenges and resilience. in a context marked by accelerating climate change and multiple extreme events like forest fires, which are hitting Northern America and Europe at the moment. Geospatial information is an essential tool for Earth observation, for following up on ecosystem development and for evaluating the impact of environmental policies. France believes that the work of the committee should focus in particular on climate change impact while relying on reliable, interoperable, and regularly updated geospatial data. We need this in our national observation programs as well. This analysis and observation capacity for the earth and our territory is vital for public decisions. and for measuring progress made to curb the impact of climate change. Furthermore, we want to spotlight the development of large continental geospatial systems like the pan-European Europe Core Reference Map, which seeks to create very large scale data and harmonize borders and coordinate environmental and biodiversity policies. Finally, France supports strengthening the link between the Committee and the UN work on the climate and on the environment and on disaster risk reduction to better demonstrate the strategic value of geospatial information systems for current and future global agendas. Thank you for your attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of France. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Fiji.

Thank you, Madam Co-Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. This is the first time that my delegation is taking the floor on the 16th session of the UNGGIM. I would like to extend a warm congratulations to both Co-Chairs, members of the Bureau, particularly my colleague, Ms. May Zenhicks, for her election to the Bureau. My delegation assures you of our full support and cooperation to a productive session. Madam Chair, Fiji welcomes the strengthening of the UN GCIAM, its secretariat, the global coordination mechanism and the strategic framework 2025 to 2030 and its associated relevance to the Pacific small island developing states, PSIDS. The Pacific SIDS continue to grapple with considerable structural constraints. These include limited funding and technical expertise, small and overstretched workforces, fragmented institutional mandates, outdated policy environment, big data sharing arrangements, limited access to current data sets, and the high cost of developing and maintaining geospatial infrastructure. Fiji VEFo advocates for sustained practical and nationally owned capacity building initiatives aligned with informed by UN integrated geospatial information framework. We support stronger cooperation among UN GGI and bodies, global geospatial centers and Pacific regional organizations and encourage meaningful seeds participation in the third United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress. In this regard, my delegation wishes to highlight the following recommendation to strengthen seeds capacities. Firstly, coordinated and properly funded capacity development program for seeds regional. Secondly, regional technical support, shared expertise, training, data services and technology platforms, third measurable indicators showing how the strategic framework benefits developing countries and SEEDS, and fourth, long-term support for development partners and the private sector for maintaining and updating national geospatial system and data sets. In closing, Madam Chair, my delegation supports the report and remains committed to working through the UN-GGEIM Asia Pacific and Pacific regional partners, such as the Pacific Geospatial Sovereign Council and the Pacific community. I thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Fiji. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom seated in seat 2680.

Thank you Madam Chair. The United Kingdom supports the view that the committee's ambition should evolve from being the technical partner of choice for geospatial monitoring mechanisms, as encouraged by colleagues from UNDP, DESA and the United Office of, the UN Office of ICT in both the closing side event yesterday and this morning's opening remarks. This committee must now position geospatial information as providing the foundational data and evidence infrastructure to support policy development, implementation and monitoring and ensure that it is viewed as an essential component in advancing any global sustainable development agenda. In support of that evolution of ambition, we are grateful for the Bureau and Secretariat's leadership during the intersessional period in commencing the comprehensive review and recognize the progress that has been made even at this early stage across the work program. We encourage the Bureau and Secretariat to continue to align and prioritize the committee's work as the external global and digital landscape changes. The development of a structured multi-year programme of work is welcomed by the UK. We also encourage continued focus on clear priorities to ensure resources are directed towards those areas of greatest impact. We are therefore also pleased that the Bureau has welcomed the desk review of governance arrangements that was led by the United Kingdom, and we will continue to commit to work with the Bureau to advance that work ahead of the 17th session. Finally, the United Kingdom believes that the high-level forums are an important mechanism to bring together participants from the wider digital and data economies. As such, we support the approach outlined in the papers to start the preparations for the eighth high-level forum. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Belgium.

Thank you, Madam. The Kingdom of Belgium welcomes the report and supports the continued implementation of ECOSOC resolution 2022/24 and the strategic framework for 2025 to 2030. We endorse the statement delivered by the European Group. Belgium particularly welcomes the ongoing strategic review of the Committee's programme of work and looks forward to the results of the desk review done by the UK. We support efforts to further position geospatial information as a key enabler of sustainable development and future global development agendas. We also support the planned review and updating of the United Nations Integrated Geospatial Information Framework to ensure it remains responsive to technological developments and the evolving needs of Member States. Belgium wishes to thank the Bureau and the Secretariat for their continued efforts under increasingly challenging circumstances. We remain concerned about the impact of resource constraints on the Secretariat and stress the importance of ensuring adequate and sustainable support for the Committee's normative and implementation work. We encourage Member States to raise this issue with their permanent missions and to seek their support in safeguarding the resources needed for the effective functioning of the Committee and its Secretariat. Potential extra-budgetary funding should be also included in this discussion. Finally, Belgium welcomes the recognition of the Translation Task Team and thanks the participating Member States and the Secretariat for their constructive collaboration. We remain fully committed to this initiative and consider improved multilingual access to the committee's guidance and important contribution to the global implementation of UNGGIM frameworks. I thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Belgium. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Tonga.

Thank you, Madam Co-Chair. The Kingdom of Tonga is looking forward to the update of the Committee's effort to strengthen the coordination and coherence of global geospatial information management arrangements for the continued benefit of all Member States, especially the critical need to further mobilize extra budgetary resources to cover the cost of participation in the annual sessions by developing states and small island developing states, especially the Pacific. Tonga also support the stance for the continuous prioritization and restrengthening the position of geospatial information as the key enabler for sustainable development, particularly in its role in informing critical global policy issues providing evidence for alternative policy interventions and monitoring progress on current future global agendas, especially national priorities. And lastly, special attention for small island developing state is requested to be prioritized in the committee's program of work and especially beyond 2030.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Tonga. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kazakhstan.

Dear Presidium and participants, on behalf of the delegation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, I would like to express my sincere gratitude of the UN for the organization of the 16th session. Kazakhstan supports the agenda UNDGJM. Khalasan regards the development of NSDI as one of the key pillars of the country's digital transformation. In recent years, we have carried out a large-scale modernization of the geodetic and cartographic sector. A modern national geodetic network has been established, GNSS technologies have been introduced, and digital cartography and mechanisms for strong storings storing, processing and disseminating spatial data continue to advance. One of the most significant results of this work has been the creation of Kazakhstan's new national coordinate system, KASTIRF. KASTIRF was developed in line with current international standards and is based on ITARF. the view. Today is the creation of NSDI is one of the strategic projects of the Republic of Kazakhstan. We view the NSDI as a unified national platform that ensures the integration, standardization, interoperability and effective exchange of the geospatial data among government agencies, the scientific community and business and society. The core principle of the NSDI is that special data should be created once by the government agency responsible, kept up to date and used many times by all interested parties. NSDI is one of the key pillars of the country's digital transformation. We see the far development of unified geodata models, wider adoption of open international standards such as OGC and ISO, the expansion of geospatial web services, and the application of cloud technologies, AI and big data analytics is important directions for future work. International cooperation is important today. The interpretive of geospatial data, the use of common international standards and the exchange the best practices make it possible of build a global digital ecosystem capable of effectively addressing today's challenge. Thank you for your attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of Kazakhstan. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sweden.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Sweden thanks the Bureau, the expanded Bureau and Secretariat to continue to strengthen and enhance the coordination and coherence of global geospatial information management arrangements, especially given the constraints imposed by limited available resources. The strategic plan for the UNGD-IM is comprehensive and ambitious and needs to be so. Therefore, it also needs clear priorities and focus to achieve the necessary results. Sweden supports both Norway and Denmark in their interventions, especially noting the need to review the organization of work for the committee's annual sessions to make the best use of our limited time and resources. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Sweden. There are eight remaining speakers on our list related to this agenda topic. The next two speakers include China and Jamaica. At that point, we will close the list. We will not offer an opportunity for others to join the list. Please remember to limit your interventions to less than two minutes. Again, If you wish to speak, you can press your microphone request between China, Jamaica, not after that. Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of China.

Thank you, Madam. appreciates the work done by the Bureau and the Secretariat in advancing the coordination of global geospatial information governance and implementing the ECOSOC resolution and supports the Committee in continuing to take the Strategic Framework 2025-2030 as a guide to strengthen the fundamental supporting role of geospatial information in sustainable development. China supports a comprehensive review of the committee's work plan and holds that the positioning of geospatial information as a digital public infrastructure should be further highlighted to closely align with the post-2030 global development agenda. We suggest that the UN IGIF be updated, taking into account the impacts of emerging technologies such as AI and digital twins on geospatial information governance and paying attention to the and operability of the framework in countries at different levels of development, China calls on more member states to provide extra budgetary funds and resources to establish a more sustainable and equitable global capacity development mechanism and help developing countries improve their geospatial information management capabilities through flexible approaches such as South-South cooperation and tripartite cooperation. China supports the preparatory work of the third UNWGIC and expects the conference to promote the formation of new future-oriented consensus on geospatial information governance. At the same time, we suggest that the ACE high-level forum focus on forward-looking and inclusive topics. China agrees to strengthen the supervision of the Bureau over all functional groups and supports the optimization of the committee's structure. We wish to emphasize the key role of the regional committees in the global regional national linkage and encourage more regional experience to be fed back into the formulation of global norms so as to make the governance system more representative and effective. China will continue to actively participate in all the work of the committee and support the Bureau and the Secretariat in promoting reform and coordination and support the operation and development of the UNGGKIC in China. We stand ready to work with all parties to make the global geospatial information governance system more coordinated, efficient and inclusive and contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the future sustainable development goals. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of China. Before going to Jamaica, I would like to remind you that we will close the list of speakers following Jamaica's intervention. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Jamaica.

Thank you, co-chair. Jamaica thanks the Bureau, the expanded Bureau and the Secretariat for the report presented under this item and commends the strategic actions taken to strengthen the coordination and coherence of global geospatial information management arrangements. Jamaica notes with serious concern the impact of UNAT initiative on the Secretariat, including the reduction of geospatial positions supporting the Committee and constraints on recruitment. We support the urgency of safeguarding all geospatial information management positions dedicated to the committee's program of work, particularly those supporting operations on the SDG and United Nations IGIF. And we underscore the continued need for a secretariat for a secretariat dedicated to the committee's normative and implementation work. We support the strategic priorities identified in the review of the committee's program of work, and we attach particular importance to the development of a coherent, global program for national capacity development designed to reach small island developing states and other developing countries finally Jamaica expresses appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its preparations to host the third United Nations world geospatial information Congress in Jeddah in November 2026 and supports the initiation of preparations for the eighth high level Forum on global geospatial information management thank you co-chair

I thank the distinguished representative of Jamaica. The list of speakers is now closed. The following speakers remain associated with this agenda topic. Turkey, Guyana, United Arab Emirates, the UNGGIM Geospatial Societies, Eurogeographics, and the UNGGIM Private Sector Network. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Turkey.

Thank you, Madam Co-Chair. Distinguished delegates, Turkey takes note of the report and appreciates the efforts. We also take note of the implications of the UNAT initiative. At the same time, the growing importance of geospatial information requires stronger geospatial capacity across the UN system. Operating within the Statistics Division with limited resources, the Secretary serves as the primary point of contact for member states. As you may recall, at its 15th session, the committee urged safeguarding of the geospatial information management positions. Turkey conveys support for this call through its permanent mission. We therefore encourage member states to support efforts to fill these vacant positions. Turkey also supports the development of a coherent global program for national capacity development. This should remain the demand-driven, country-led, and non-prescriptive, while respecting national circumstances and varying levels of geospatial maturity. Finally, Turkey welcomes the preparations for the third World Geospatial Information Congress in Jeddah. as the Congress will coincide with the second week of COP31 in Turkey, we encourage close coordination and linkages between these two events, particularly on the contribution of geospatial information to environmental management, climate action, and disaster resilience. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Turkey. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Guyana. Excuse me, just one minute, please. Let's make sure your microphone is working. There we go.

Thank you, Madam Co-Chair. Guyana takes note of the report and expresses its gratitude to the Secretariat and the Bureau for their efforts. Guyana endorses the report and agrees with the Bureau and expanded Bureau that it is important to give priority to the placement of geospatial information as a critical component towards the achievement of Economic Council Resolution 2022-24. GAINS subscribes to the Bureau's endorsement of the concept that geospatial information is an important tool for transmission and comparative analysis of critical national and global data that are used to guide policy directions while providing a useful means of updating progress towards the achievement of the various global agendas. Kaina reiterates the concerns raised at the 15th session on the issue of the freeze on hiring of staffing to key positions at the Secretariat and the potential impact on the successful implementation of the program of work and hopes that this will be resolved sooner than later. We recognize and appreciate the various initiatives implemented towards improvement in building geospatial capacity among among member states, especially within the SIDS group and look forward to more collective activities whereby groups like Cara Geo can benefit from shared experiences and knowledge. And is happy to hear the secretariat has advanced preparation towards the world geospatial information congress to be held in Saudi Arabia later this year. And thanks to Kingdom for hosting this important forum. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Guyana. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Arab Emirates.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I will deliver my statement in Arabic.

The UAE welcomes the report and appreciates the efforts made to enhance arrangements for geospatial information management globally. From our perspective, we believe that in this upcoming phase, it's important to focus on integration and coordination between standing mechanisms and initiatives to further benefit from them and avoid duplicating efforts. These arrangements must reflect practically in the experience of member states, especially through enhanced capacity building and support for the actual implementation of the IGIF. while bearing in mind the different needs and maturity levels of different states. In conclusion, we particularly hope to see these global efforts translated into practical action and tangible impact at the national level. We emphasize our support for international efforts and initiatives aiming to advance geospatial information management and geospatial information management's role in sustainable development and decision making thank you madam chair

I thank the distinguished representative of the United Arab Emirates I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the unggim geospatial societies

Thank you, Madam Chair. The UN GGI and geospatial societies welcome the report and commend the Bureau, expanded Bureau and Secretariat for their continued leadership in strengthening global geospatial information management arrangements and advancing the Committee's program of work. Over the past intercessional period, the geospatial societies have focused on strengthening the professional foundations that underpin the implementation of UN IGIF framework. Through closer collaboration with other thematic networks, regional engagement, international scientific congresses, and partnerships with the UN GGKIC and the UN GG geodetic center of excellence we have worked to connect the committee's global guidance with a wider geospatial professional we particularly welcome the committee's emphasis on coherent Global program for National capacity development this year's joint Global survey undertaken by the four thematic networks reinforces the capacity development has evolved Beyond technical training respondents consistently identified leadership institutional capability governance, continuous professional development, and community of practice as equally important to technical competencies in building resilient national geospatial ecosystems. As the committee reviews this program of work and considers the future evolution of UNIGIF in response to artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, geospatial societies remain committed to provide independent scientific expertise mobilizing our International professional Network and supporting the continuous development of global geospatial Workforce finally we look forward to continuing our close collaboration with member states the secretariat the regional committees the high level group and our fellow thematic networks to strengthen implementation and ensure that the committees work continues to deliver practical and lasting impact. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of the UNGGIM Geospatial Societies. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of EuroGeographics.

Thank you, Madam Chair. EWIGEographics would like to reconfirm our continued commitment to providing the UNGGIM Europe Secretariat through our service level agreement with the Netherlands and to supporting the Regional Committee's work through our collaboration agreement with UNGGIM. In the current resource constraints environment that we are facing in the committee's architecture more broadly, we consider this an example of how arrangements of this kind can help sustain the core functions and ease pressure on limited resources. We note with interest the growing emphasis across several agenda items in this session on the further anchoring of geospatial information management into the broader frameworks of the United Nations. EuroGeographics considers this to be a critical activity for the visibility of our sector. Through our multi-level representation activities, EuroGeographics continues to successfully advocate with policy makers across Europe on the value and benefit of geospatial information to ensure political recognition and long-term sustainability of authoritative data in Europe. We would be happy to share this experience, particularly as the committee looks ahead to the future development frameworks beyond 2030. Eurogeographics would welcome the opportunity, if possible, to join the proposed bureau-led team taking this work forward. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Eurogeographics. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the UNGGIM Private Sector Network.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Private Sector Network welcomes the report and the progress made in advance in the program of work during the reporting period and for the strategic plan tabled. Enhancing global geospatial information management arrangement is not only about structure and governance, but it's also about ensuring that architecture has the capacity and resources to translate global guidance into national implementation. The private sector network therefore supports the proposed coherent global capacity development program and the principle of global guidance with regional implementation. The private sector network can amplify these efforts through expertise, technology and implementation, experience and partnerships. However, these contributions should complement a sustainable resource secretariat and strong member state leadership. We therefore note with deep concern the resource constraints highlighted in the report. The PSN stands ready to continue contributing across the UNGGIM architecture to strengthening coordination, capacity and implementation. We also welcome the opportunity to explore with relevant partners creative and sustainable resource mobilization mechanisms for the committee's consideration. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the UNGGIM Private Sector Network. We just heard the last speaker on this item. I now invite Mr. Guillaume Lesur, Geospatial Information Officer at the Global Geospatial Information Management Section of UNSD, to summarize the main points of the discussion.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Committee of Experts welcomed the efforts of the Bureau and the Secretariat in implementing strategic and practical actions to strengthen and enhance global geospatial information management arrangements and ECOSOC resolution 22, 24, and advancing the Committee's program of work for the benefits of all member states and in particular developing states. The Committee endorsed the strategic priorities presented in the report, including positioning further geospatial information for sustainable development, delivering updates to its main frameworks, strengthening its anchoring within the wider United Nations system, while emphasizing the need to continue adapting its work to emerging technologies, evolving global priorities and agendas, and ensuring coherence across its program, particularly on sustainable development. The Committee of Experts agreed to the strategic prioritization and oversight, the development of a future multi-year program, the three-tier approach to capacity development, and the further strengthening of coordination and engagement with regional committees and the United Nations Global Geospatial Centers. The Committee of Experts underscored the importance of maintaining adequate Secretariat resources, noting with concern the current impact on staffing and capacity to support the normative coordination and operations of the Committee, and further encouraged contributions and voluntary mechanism from Member States, and in this context welcomed the establishment of the Translation Task Team and its term of reference. The Committee of Experts recognized the critical importance of developing a sustainable resource model, including extra-budgetary resources to facilitate the participation of developing countries in the annual sessions of the Committee, expert meetings and country-level implementation, and encouraged continued support from Member States and partners. The Committee of Experts welcomed the preparations for the third United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in November 2026, encouraged and encouraged broad participation by member states and relevant stakeholders. And finally, the Committee of Experts requested the Secretariat and the Bureau to initiate preparations for the eighth session, eighth high-level forum on global geospatial information management taking into account the guidance provided by the Committee. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank Mr. Lessure and all participants for their valuable contributions to this interesting exchange of views. The Committee of Experts has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item three. The committee will now take up agenda item four entitled contribution of regional committees to the global geospatial information agenda. I am pleased to inform that the interpreters have graciously given us a 15 minute extension, which will enable us to hear the introduction to this agenda item. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the team. I now invite Mohammed Yahya Alsayal, my fellow co-chair and chair of the UNGGIM Arab States and president of the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information of Saudi Arabia to take the introducer seat on the podium. In connection with this item, the committee has before a note by the Secretariat entitled Contribution of Regional Committees to the Global Geospatial Information Agenda. contained in document E/C.20/2026/5 and its addendum. I invite Mr. Mohammed Yahya Alsayel to introduce the report.

Thank you, Madam. Distinguished representatives, delegates, observers, and colleagues, It's an honor to deliver this introductory statement on behalf of the five regional committees and to introduce our joint report contained in the document, document E/C.20/2026/5/A-DD. The preparation of the report was coordinated by the Regional Committee of the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management for the Arab States. I wish to thank all five regional committees, their executive bodies and secretariats, and member states, their valuable contribution. The regional committees are by vital components of the committee architecture. They provide the direct link between the global program of work and member states bring regional and national priorities to the global level and support countries in translating the committee's framework, nor principles, and guidance into practical and context-sensitive action. During the interventional period, all five regional committees continue to implement the regional work program aligned with the strategic framework 2025-2030. confer their plenary meeting and advance capacity developments. The implementation of the United Nations Integrated Geospatial Information Framework remained a central priority with particular emphasis in the developing country level action plans. Progress was made in advancing the global statistical geospatial framework, the framework for effective land administration and the global geodetic reference frame. The regional committee also continue to respond to emerging priorities, including geospatial governance, data policy, capacity and capability developments and they're responsible for use of artificial intelligence and other rapidly evolving technology. Interregional cooperation has continued to deepen, representatives of regional committees continue to engage when possible in one another's plenary meetings, and exchange experiences and contributed to the functional group thematic networks and the United Nations Global Geospatial Centers of Excellence. Notably, the regional committee contributed to the webinar series in the digital road to the X16 session coordinated by the Arab states with the support of Europe. At the same time, the report was drawing attention to continuing challenges including uneven national capacities, limited human and financial resources, and the need for sustainable financing to enable participation of developing countries, particularly small islands, developing states, and regional meetings and capacity development activities. The committee is invited to take note of the recent reports and combining the regional reports provide guidance and strengthen synergies and alignment with its priorities and program of work. while avoiding duplication and support stronger interregional and bilateral collaboration. Member states are encouraged to participate actively in the forthcoming regional plenary meetings and contribute to the work of their respective regional committee. Finally, I am pleased to announce that the United Nation GGIM Europe will coordinate the regional committees joint activities and the preparation of the report to be presented at the 17th session. Thank you.

I thank Mr. Al-Sayal. I now open the floor for discussion on the item. And I kindly remind all speakers of the time limit of two minutes for interventions in our discussions. Depending on your cooperation with this time limit, we may be able to hear several speakers before we break at 1:15. I once again thank our interpreters for the extension of the 15 minutes. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Antigua Barbuda.

Thank you, Chair.

Antigua and Barbuda welcomes the reports on the contribution of regional committees to the global geospatial information agenda.

It would be remiss of us not to recommend, not to comment.

Sorry, the extensive work done within our region through CARIGEO falling under the overarching umbrella of the UN GGIM Americas. A strong presence of the efforts made throughout the years to expand geospatial information for evidence-based decision making in the region have been felt. This is backed by the support of other regional and international partners bringing varied levels of expertise which contributed significantly to the yielding of fruitful results. As such, Antigua and Barbuda welcomes the reaffirmation of commitment by the UNGGIM Americas to the regional efforts.

Thank you, Chair. I thank the distinguished representative of Antigua Barbuda, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Algeria.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Algeria welcomes the joint report of the UNGGIM regional committees and comments on their efforts to consolidate regional and interregional cooperation in facilitating the implementation of global geospatial framework and initiatives, and in translating them into regional and national actions that respond to the specific.

And needs of member states. Algeria emphasized the importance of strengthening regional capacities, particularly in developing and vulnerable countries through capacity development, knowledge exchange, and dissemination of good practices.

Algeria, however, insists on respect of national data sovereignty, privacy, and cybersecurity, and calls for the responsible use of artificial intelligence while fostering national research and locally developed solutions. Thanks, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Algeria. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Serbia, seated in seat number 2617.

Madam Chair, Morocco, not Syria.

Excuse me. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Morocco.

Thank you, Chair.

Seated in seat 2617.

Thank you. Madam Chair, thank you. I will give a statement on behalf of UNGGM Africa. UNGGM Africa welcomes the joint report of the five UN-GIG regional committees and commands the continued efforts to strengthen regional and inter-regional cooperation in advancing the global geospatial information agenda. The region appreciates the important role played by the regional committees in facilitating the implementation of global geospatial frameworks, promoting knowledge and experience sharing, and strengthening dialogue and collaboration among member states and across regions. UN-GIG Africa recognizes the critical role of regional committees in translating global geospatial framework and initiatives into regional and national actions that respond to the specific needs and priorities of member states. The region emphasizes the importance of strengthening regional capacities, particularly in developing countries, through capacity development, knowledge exchange and dissemination of good practices, innovative approaches and emerging trends. UN-GISDM Africa endorses the continued efforts to strengthen collaboration among the five regional committees and to enhance their contribution to the functional groups of the Committee of Experts. The region encourages greater alignment between regional work programmes and the global geospatial information agenda, while emphasising the importance of inclusive inter-regional dialogue and stronger partnership to ensure that regional perspectives experiences and priorities effectively contribute to global discussions and initiatives. And finally, UNDG Africa reaffirms its commitment to actively contributing to the global geospatial information agenda and to strengthening cooperation with the other regional committees, the Committee of Experts and its functional groups. The region looks forward to continued collaboration, knowledge sharing and joint initiatives to enhance geospatial information management capabilities and decision making across Africa while ensuring that African experiences and priorities continue to enrich the global geospatial information. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Morocco. I now give the floor to the distinguished distinguished representative of Brazil seated in seat 2698.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will speak in Spanish on behalf of UN-GGIE Americas.

Americas expresses its appreciation to the Regional Committee of Arab States for its coordination efforts in preparing the report on the contribution of the regional committees to the global geospatial information agenda. We'd also like to thank UNGGIM Europe for organizing the Digital Road webinar series, and we encourage this initiative to become a regular practice in advance of the annual sessions of the United Nations Committee of Experts. UNGGIM Americas notes with concern the decline in Member State participation in regional plenary meetings. and encourages the review of strategies to increase engagement, including, for example, the joint organisation of meetings involving the statistical and geospatial communities, organisation of workshops with the Centres of Excellence and other initiatives that support this objective. Then with regard to the collaboration among the regional committees, we feel that this could further be strengthened through enhanced coordination and communication among counterpart working groups, including regular joint meetings to exchange experiences and review progress in implementing global frameworks within their respective regions. We also note that some topics on the global agenda have been more actively incorporated into regional work programmes than others. Some of those issues are being addressed by regional working groups, and others are part of the global programme of work. We think that we should revise the situation to ensure that we have a clear link with the global programme of work. Finally, we take note of the dates of the upcoming regional plenary meetings and encourage the continued practice of allocating time in agendas for all regional committees to share updates on their activities and challenges. Thank you very much, Madam Co-Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Brazil. We just heard from the last speaker on this item for this meeting. The committee will continue its consideration of agenda item four at its next meeting this afternoon. I would like to thank our presenter. and all participants once again for their valuable contributions to the discussions and exchange of views held this morning. The committee will reconvene this afternoon at 3:00 PM in this conference room. The meeting is adjourned.