Least Developed Countries Green Industrialization Facilitation (LDC-GIF) Mechanism

Mr. Pedro Manuel Moreno, Secretary General of UN Trade and Development. Mrs. Rabah Fatima, United Nations Under-Secretary General and High Representative for the LDC, LLDC. Mr. Samet Ayrbas, UN Climate, High-Level Champion for the 31st Conference of the Parties, President of the Zero Waste Foundation. Excellencies, honorable ministers, distinguished ambassadors, secretaries general and directors, esteemed representatives of international organizations and financial institutions. It's a great pleasure to welcome you to this dialogue on the Least Developed Countries Green Industrialization Facilitation Mechanism, the LDC GIF. When the United Nations established the Least Developed Country category in 1971, it included just 25 countries. More than five decades later, that number has risen to 44. This should raise the alarm and compel us to act strategically and collectively. It tells us that traditional approaches, despite decades of effort and support, have not yet delivered structural transformation at the scale we need. Today, These 44 countries are home to more than 1.2 billion people, yet account for just over 1% of global GDP and global manufacturing value added. The problem is not potential. The problem is turning that potential into productive capacity, investment, and opportunity. It is evidence that we need to do things differently, and that's precisely why we are here today. Behind these figures lies enormous potential to create quality jobs, expand productive capacity, increase value-added production, and strengthen the participation of LDCs in global value chains. Industrialization remains one of the strongest engines of economic transformation, but the conditions of industrialization are changing. Technology, climate policies, resource efficiency, and new trade requirements are reshaping global competitiveness. For LDCs, this transition must not become a new source of inequality. Countries that contributed the least to historical emissions should not be asked to carry a disproportionate share of the cost of the green transition. Green industrialization must create development opportunities not new barriers. This is the purpose of the LDC GIF. The idea is simple, to connect the needs of LDCs with technology, expertise and finance and turn those connections into real industrial and technology projects. We want to move beyond reports, recommendations and knowledge sharing. We want to bring proven solutions into practice. But technology alone is not enough. a technology may open the door, skills, infrastructure, institutions, and finance are what allow industry to walk through that door and scale. That's why the LDC GIF is designed as an integrated and partnership driven mechanism. For LDCs, it will be country led and demand driven. National priorities and technology needs must remain at the center. For countries and institutions, With technical expertise, it will provide a platform to share practical know-how, technologies, and implementation experience. For development banks, climate funds, and financial institutions, it will help strengthen project pipelines and connect investment-ready projects with the right financing instruments. Importantly, the LDC GIF is not intended to create another parallel financing architecture. Its purpose is to make existing systems work better together. Turkey is proud to bring forward this initiative as the incoming COP31 presidency and as the host country of the UN Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries. We are also pleased to advance it in partnership with UN OHRLLS. The UN Technology Bank will serve as the secretariat of the mechanism. Its technology needs assessments provide a strong starting point by identifying national priorities, technology gaps, and enabling conditions. The objective is clear, to move from identified needs to technical assistance, from technical assistance to projects, and from projects to investment. Today, we are not here simply to present a new concept. We are here to shape it together. We want to understand where partners can contribute, and we want to build a practical bridge between technology, project preparation, and finance. Because ultimately, this is not only about creating a new mechanism, it's about unlocking productive potential. It's about jobs, it's about industrial capacity, it's about stronger participation in global value chains, and above all, It's about a fairer approach to development, grounded in the vision that a fairer world is possible, articulated and consistently advocated at the international level by His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Turkey. And it's about ensuring that the green transition creates opportunity for those who have historically had the least access to it. Green industrialization in LDCs should not be seen simply as an act of solidarity. It's an investment in a more balanced, resilient, and prosperous global economy. Let us move from ambition to implementation, from potential to investment, and from fragmented support to a genuine global partnership for green industrialization. Thank you. Excellencies, distinguished guests, let me now turn to the esteemed speakers who will share their perspectives on the LDC-GIF and on how we can collectively advance green industrialization and technology transfer in the least developed countries. I am particularly pleased that we have with us today representatives bringing together the perspectives of the United Nations, the global climate action community, and the COP 31 presidency. To begin, it's my great pleasure to give the floor to Mrs. Rabab Fatima, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS. UN OHRLLS has a unique role in advancing the priorities and interests of LDCs at the global level. And we are particularly grateful for its invaluable partnership in this initiative. Mrs. Fatima, the floor is yours.

Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Honorable Mehmet Fatih Kacir, Minister of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Turkey, one of my first hosts after I joined my current post nearly four years back when I visited Turkey. His Excellency, Mr. Mehdi Akir, Mr. Samad Aghabaz, High-Level Climate Champion and President of the Zero Waste Foundation. Honourable Ministers, I also recognize here Baroness Cotland, the former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Secretariat. It's wonderful to see you here, Patricia. Dear friends and colleagues from the UN system, and the global community. I thank the government of Turkey and the COP31 presidency for convening this timely dialogue. Turkey's partnership with the least developed countries has deep roots and it is time tested. And my office in particular, deeply appreciates the partnership and support that we have with you, Mr. Minister. 15 years ago, Turkey hosted the fourth United Nations Conference on the LDCs, which adopted the Istanbul Programme of Action and set the international framework for supporting LDC development over the following decade. Today, Turkey hosts the United Nations Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries, and through the proposed LDC Green Industrialization Facilitation Mechanism, the GIFF, LDC GIFF, it is helping to take that partnership further. As the UN Secretary-General's representative to the Council of the Technology Bank, I thank and commend the government of Turkey for including the Technology Bank in this critically important and transformative venture. Excellencies, we see the objective of the proposed GIFF mechanism as a practical one to help LDCs turn green industrial opportunities into productive capacity, investment, and jobs. And the need for that is urgent, as the Minister very rightly articulated. The green transition is reshaping economies, industries and global value chains. And for the 44 least developed countries, the stakes could not be higher. Their population has reached an estimated 1.2 billion. Between now and 2050, their economies will need to absorb an average of 13.2 million new job seekers every year. Yet labor productivity in the median developed economy is more than 11 times that of the median LDC. And the share of medium and high technology industries in manufacturing value added is only 8.4% in LDCs compared with 46.1% globally. Structural transformation is therefore not a distant aspiration. It is an economic imperative today. The Doha Programme of Action for LDCs recognizes this clearly. LDCs must raise productivity, strengthen productive capacities and diversify their economies. And industrialization and services development must advance together. Modern industry increasingly depends on logistics, finance, digital services, technology and skills, and green industrialization can become an engine of the transformation. And as you rightly pointed out, Mr. Minister, it can create jobs, build domestic value, diversify economies, and enable LDCs to move into the industries and value chain of the future. But today, progress in key sectors is lagging. the foundations of industrial transformation remain constrained. Only around 60% of the population in LDCs have access to electricity, and only about a third have access to the internet. The question, therefore, is not whether the global economy will transform, it is whether LDCs will have the means to transform with it. And this implementation challenge was also recognized at COP30. The Belém Declaration on global green industrialization made clear that green industrialization must reduce inequality, create quality jobs, and support a just and inclusive transition. It also called for stronger collaboration on finance, technical assistance, technology co-development, and capacity building. For LDCs, the challenge is delivery. That is where, this is where the proposed LDC Green, the GIFF mechanism can make an important contribution. It can provide a practical bridge between LDC priorities and the technology, technical expertise, project development support and financing needed to deliver them. The GIFF mechanism should also work in close complementarity with the United Nations Technology Bank, which is already helping LDCs strengthen STI capabilities and deploy technologies that respond to the development priorities. And, Mr. Minister, thank you very much for saying that the technology bank, UN, besides the technology bank, to have a greater role in implementing the GIFF mechanism for the LDCs. Together, they can help move green industrialization and technology from ambition to implementation. As the LDC GIFF takes shape, let me highlight three priorities very briefly. First, you also mentioned that, Mr. Minister, but let me reiterate it, country ownership. Green industrialization must begin with national priorities, national capabilities, and national development strategies. And you mentioned nationally driven. I agree with that, consistent with the Doha Program of Action. Second, partnerships. No single country or institutions can deliver transformation alone. Governments, the UN system, financial institutions, the private sector, and development partners must come together around a shared pipeline of LDC green industrialization priorities, and partnerships must also help LDCs navigate rapidly evolving technologies, including artificial intelligence. And finally, results. Success must ultimately be measured in projects prepared, technologies deployed, investment mobilized, and decent jobs created in the LDCs. Excellencies, honorable ministers, the green transition is already reshaping the global economy. LDCs cannot be spectators to that transformation. They must have the technology, productive capacity, investment and partnerships to shape it. Let us ensure that green industrialization is not something that simply happens around LDCs. Let us ensure it is shaped by LDCs and deliver for their people. My office stands ready, Mr. Minister, to work with Turkey. the UN Technology Bank and all partners to make the LDCG practical, focused and results driven. And we look forward to its launch at COP 31 in Antalya. I thank you.

Thank you very much, dear Under-Secretary-General, for your valuable remarks and for highlighting the priorities and perspectives of the LDCs. Indeed, If we are to make green industrialization a reality, we need to bring together not only governments and international institutions, but also the broader climate action community and the partners who can help turn ambition into concrete action. In this regard, I am delighted to invite Mr. Samet Arbas, climate high-level champion for COP31 and president of the Zero Waste Foundation of Turkey. to share his perspective. Mr. Arbas, the floor is yours.

Thank you, dear ministers and dear Fatima, excellencies, dear colleagues and friends. Thank you, honorable minister, for bringing us together. Let me start with the people. The least developed countries are home to 1.1 billion people, yet they produce 1% of the world's output. Behind that number, a young engineer with a good idea and no one to finance it. A farmer whose harvest spoils before it, a market, a town where the electricity arrive and then goes away. Green industrialization changed that. It means power that arrives and stays, a workshop that runs. food project close to the farm, a job that stay in the community, a society developing and increasing its standard of living. Too often a good idea gets stuck before it reaches the ground, too small, too early, too risky for the banks. This mechanism is built for that moment. It takes the idea, makes it real project and connects to technology and finance. That is what the action agenda about, from commitments to implementation. Governments find solution, investors find credible projects. I am happy to know that it was developed in consultation with our Axis 1 partners on energy, industry, and transport. One more thing, green industrialization. Industry means doing more with less energy that is not wasted Materials that stay in use. That is the 0 waste idea carried into industry, echo industrial parks where one factory waste become another input. the Istanbul platform will connect that works across the action agenda. If your country has a technology that's work shared, if your institution finance industry in the least developed countries join us and let us make Antalya is remembered for what changed because of it. Also, I would like to special thanks to our minister and our all participant. I thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Arbash, for those inspiring remarks. We have heard today the importance of placing LDC priorities at the heart of our efforts and of building partnerships that can translate climate ambition into tangible opportunities for sustainable industrial development. So building on these perspectives, Let us now turn to the LDCGIF itself, its objectives, structure, areas of cooperation, and the concrete pathways through which we envisage turning this shared vision into action. To take us through the proposed mechanism and its operational framework, I am pleased to invite Mr. Ahmet Halit Hatip, Director General for EU and Foreign Affairs of our Ministry, to present the LDCGIF. Mr. Hatip. The floor is yours.

Honorable Minister, Excellencies, and distinguished participants, it's such an honor to join you here today to make the presentation about the LDCGIF, Green Industrialization Facilitation Mechanism, that we are very eager to launch and interested to launch together with all partners at COP31. Actually, next slide, please. In the interventions, we have figured out one of the key pillars that the LDCs almost have the 14% of the total population, but at the same time, in terms of the GDP, they only consist of the 1.5 of the total GDP, and also the 1.3% of the global manufacturing value added. And in terms of the GDP growth rates, when we look at the statistics, we are saying that it is very under potential. But these 44 countries, actually looking at the other demographic and the socioeconomic inputs, are not under the potential in terms of the youth population, natural resources, and the other economic parameters, which has brought us a very important initiative that one necessary facilitator is requested to bringing together the all the dots together to make this potential into the real economic developed sustainable development goals, into the very realistic development strategy. Next slide, please. So when we look at the problems of the LDCs, I mean, although they're a group of 44 countries, they have unique problems and unique specifications and the unique potentials. So therefore, there is no one response that fits to all the LDCs. But on the other hand, when we wait to the grouping of the countries, There are four main dimensions that we have been figuring out. One of them is the export manufacturing oriented emerging LDCs in which there's an industrial infrastructure is already there, but request an investment to make it green transformation and increase the economic output. And agricultural based industry and the high fertilizer potential LDCs, which has a potential, high potential on the green fertilizer protection and the agricultural industry. Third one is the early stage and semi-focused LDs, and the fourth one is the fragile LDs with basic infrastructure needs in and with a huge potential in the green transformation. So actually, next slide, please. When we look at the green industrialization phenomena in the world, in the developing countries and the developed countries, the main issue is going on the decarbonization. and also the transition in the renewable energies. But when we look at the green industrialization process and the plan of the least developed countries, we are figuring out that one of the very important pillars that this is the green agenda is one of the main agenda. But on the other hand, this green agenda should be feeding the resilience building, climate resilience, agriculture, and also food security, water security, livelihood protection, and the structural transformation. So we have to get this advantage in the least developed countries to use the green agenda to make as a transformative change, not only in the carbon emissions, but on the overall economic structure. So this strategy brings us one of the very important organization, United Nations Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries, which is an explicitly mandated on the LDCs and responsible for the science technology innovation development in the least developed countries and has a very important initiative of the technology needs assessment, which is identifying the key technologies, prior technologies that will boost the economic development in terms of the sustainable development in the least developed countries. This is some very huge insight information that is provided together with the least all of countries so next slide please so what will be the operational structure that we are trying to do here as I said we're going to plan to establish this initiative launch this initiative with all contributing Partners and I'm believing that lots of Partners are sitting here as well first will be the partner countries what we are calling the partner donors why is the partner donor because one of the low hanging fruit in this initiative in the green industrialization is these countries like the Turkey and other developing countries has a bankable and very successful green industry projects that has been already financed by the leading IFIs and the MDBs. So these initiatives already passed the technical and the financial assessments of the IFIs and MDBs. There's also, which means that with this full-fledged programs, It can be easily with a facilitating tool to transform this initiative that has been developed for these countries in the project base to the LDCs like a technical assistant by the donor country. So at that point, already finance, green finance, green projects is I think a very important parameter on determining which project will be the low hanging fruit in this initiative. Second one is the international organizations, UNDP, ITU, WIPO, UNCTAD, UNOCHRLS, and all of these international organizations, technical support to this initiative will be one of the key building block that we're going to together to identify the main priority initiatives in those countries. And I think when we started this initiative almost two months ago, together with the Technology Bank, other partners, we have circulated letters to the international organizations and IFIs, and it is very also promising for us that we have already received the commitment from the international organizations that we're going to disclose very soon before the COP31. And also, there is a declaration that has been circulated among you and which is also in your tables right now, and until the 31st COP, we are planning to launch this with all partnering countries. So the secretariat function is envisaged to be conducted by the Technology Bank as their access and responsibility for the LDCs within the UN system. And also, we are bringing together the IFIs and MDBs. I want to clearly identify one very key pillar. We are not dictating or we are not creating an extra burden on the international finance organizations or the multilateral development bank, but we are opening a new channel of project pipelines that has been cleared, proposed, and nation loaned. I think this is the one of the key pillar I think that we have to identify here. Next one. With our project, we're going to have four major building blocks, project development and maturation support in which the international organization as well as the donor partner countries will going to support the countries about the maturation of the project with their technical expertise. And the second one is the technology matchmaking and transfer. This is again a peer-to-peer activity, I think that we need to develop again on the best practices and the technology banks identify priority technologies and implement through them. At the same time, simultaneously, in order to increase the absorption capacity, I think this is one of the key points as well, institutional capacity and human resource development will be another key specific target of this initiative to make this project sustainable. Third is, I think, the most important one, national policy alignment and governance. And it is also very promising that there are several LDCs also approaching to us officially on their commitment to become one of the prior countries on this initiative, which is showing a huge country ownership for the pilot countries. Next slide, please. And according to the timeline and the expected outcomes, we are targeting to make a global launch the COP31 and within the first three months we are targeting to operationalize the secretariat and the executive body and in six months the technical financing pools will be mobilized and the first goals of the projects, this is a target but we want to make it earlier within the first 12 months. our expected outcome, and I am underlining very openly about the potential of this initiative that these are the humble targets, and I believe we can move forward this uh KPIs very successfully and we can go over the mountain about this one 10 green industrial projects in the LDCs what why we are calling it the 10 green industrial projects in LDCs because we are going to start with the 10 prior countries and we have also started to receiving the list of the which countries are showing willingness to be the among the first 10 countries and simultaneously we're going to start 10 countries in the technical support pool and are again and humble target that we can, I think, easily achieve is that $100 million investment mobilized for the green industrialization projects in the least countries. And we are hoping that this, we are also sure that is going to transform into a permanent foundation for the green industrialization in the COP mechanism. Next slide, please. And We have been holding the very important meetings with UN agencies, MDBs, and the potential LDCs, and we're going to increase the level of interaction until to the COP31. And we are going to sign these agreements and launch together with all participating IFIs, MDBs, international organizations, donor partner countries, and the first row of the prior countries. And hopefully, we're going to finalize it all together, sure. And the declaration that will be signed is also circulated in your tables right now. And we're going to follow up very closely with each partner here. Again, why December important strategic assessment? The troika of the COP is the Brazil, Turkey, and Ethiopia. And this is an initiative that will be launched at the COP 31, but Ethiopia will be the chair of the COP, the president of the COP 32, and also an LDC. So we believe that this initiative will going to sustain in the COP 31 in a much more powerful way as well. So I think this will be a very important united path for us to move together with our own mandates, without creating any burden, without creating any additional technical burden to all organizations or the member states, but by bringing together all expertise and our capabilities, we can facilitate this initiative. Thank you very much, Excellencies.

I would like to thank our Director General for his presentation. We will now move to the intervention segment of our dialogue. where we very much look forward to hearing the assessments and recommendations of our partner and participants. To begin this exchange, it's my pleasure to invite Mr. Pedro Manuel Moreno, Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, to take the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Kaspir for Turkey's leadership. on this initiative and your firm and continued support to the LDCs agenda. Industrialization is how countries move from exporting raw materials to making things, concrete things, adding value, creating jobs, building an economy that works for its people. For the 44 least developed countries, that transformation remains unfinished. I want to make two very brief points, one on the scale of the challenge and one on why this mechanism can help address it. Let me start with the challenge. It's been mentioned here, LDCs are home to over 14, actually almost 15% of the world's population. They produce just 1.5% of global GDP and 1.3% of global manufacturing value added. A farmer who grows cotton, a miner who strikes cobalt, a fisher who catches tuna. They ship raw materials abroad and import finished products at a multiplied price. Manufacturing now accounts for about 14% of LDC outputs, a real base to build on. The question is whether new green value chains like solar panels, Batteries, green hydrogen will build on that base or bypass these countries entirely. This brings me to my second point on what this mechanism can do. The LDC GIF takes the right approach, dear Minister Cassir. It starts with country priorities. It targets projects that are already bankable or close to bankable, turning viable ideas into real factories, Real jobs, real output at the end of the day. It brings together technology, financing, and technical support in one integrated pathway. And it begins concretely with 10 pilot countries to start with. UN Trade and Development, UNCTAD, works, as you all know, on productive capacities, technology transfer, and structural transformation in LDCs every day. We see what holds green industrialization back. The distance between a viable project and the capital, the know-how, and the infrastructure to bring it to life. The LDC GIF targets exactly that distance. So, excellencies, COP31 in Antalya offers a real opportunity to match climate commitments with industrial strategy for those who need it the most. UNTAD stands ready to support. And again, congratulations, Minister, for this great initiative. I thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Now, I am particularly pleased to give the floor to Mr. Roland Mollerup, Managing Director of the UN Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries, which is envisaged to serve as the secretary of the LDCGIF. Please.

Good afternoon. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, ministers, excellencies, distinguished colleagues, ladies and gentlemen. In my new capacity as managing director of the UN Technology Bank for LDCs, I wish to express my deep appreciation to the government of Turkey for its unwavering support to the UN Technology Bank for LDCs. The proposed Green Industrialization Facilitation Mechanism is yet another important expression of Turkey's commitment to the development and industrialization aspiration of LDCs. As latecomers to industrialization, the challenge for LDCs is not whether to industrialize, but how to do so while keeping emissions and resource consumption within the ecological limits of our planet. This very timely initiative addresses that challenge, and the UN Technology Bank is honored to be asked to play a central role in its implementation. Timing matters. The green transition is creating opportunities for new industries, technologies, markets, and value chains. For LDCs, this offers an opportunity to build productive capacities, increase local value addition, create jobs, and participate more fully in the industries of the future. But green industrialization is not simply an opportunity. It's increasingly an economic necessity. LDCs are among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, despite contributing the least to global emissions. Over the past five decades, nearly 70% of global deaths from climate-related disasters occurred in LDCs. Climate shocks also divert scarce public resources from development priorities and productive investment towards recovery and reconstruction. As adaptation costs rise, climate resilience is becoming inseparable from economic development and industrialization. For LDCs, green industrialization, therefore, offers a pathway to strengthen economic resilience, protect livelihoods, and safeguard long-term social and economic stability. The central question then is how we move from identified needs to practical implementation. And as mentioned by the previous speakers, this is precisely the direction in which the UN Technology Bank has been evolving. The first pillar of our work is policy and analysis, including our flagship technology needs assessments, as mentioned before. Working closely with governments, these assessments identify priority sectors, technology gaps, and areas where technology can support structural transformation. Over time, these assessments have emerged as a unique and important source of evidence on the technology priorities and the needs of LDCs. They are demand-driven, evidence-based, and grounded in extensive consultations with governments, researchers, academia, and the private sector. They, therefore, help answer a simple but fundamental question: In which national priority sectors do LDCs need new technologies to accelerate structural transformation? Across countries, the findings consistently point to climate-smart agriculture, sustainable manufacturing, and technologies that strengthen productive capacity and resilience. But identifying needs is only the starting point. Connecting these priorities to implementation through capacity building is critical and constitutes a second pillar of our work. This means supporting countries to translate identified needs into concrete projects. Secondly, to access appropriate technologies and connect with technical partners. Thirdly, build the capacities required for technology adoption and deployment. And last, most importantly, move promising projects closer to financing. This strong alignment is what makes the LDC GIVE initiative particularly relevant to the work of the UN Technology Bank. The mechanism brings together elements that are too often addressed separately. Its value added lies in connecting them through a clear pathway from identified needs to implementation. Through the Bank's assessments, we can help identify green industrial opportunities and translate them into a pipeline of bankable projects connecting countries with appropriate technologies, partners, and financing. These are also core functions envisaged by the UN Technology Bank under the proposed mechanism. Here, I would like to echo a point made earlier by USG Rabab Fatima. For LDCs, the challenge now is delivery. She also reminded us that success must ultimately be measured in technologies deployed, investment mobilized, and decent jobs created. That's precisely the standard we should apply to the LDC GIFF. Its success will depend on whether it can help LDCs implement concrete projects that translate their green industrialization ambitions into tangible economic and social outcomes. Achieving this at scale will require both a broad coalition of partners and resources, commensurate with the ambition. Member states, development partners, technology providers, multilateral and regional development finance institutions, research centers and investors all have important roles to play. Today's gathering provides an opportunity to reinforce that collective commitment. And last, for our part, I wish to assure that the UN Technology Bank stands ready to play its full role. working closely with the Government of Turkiye and all other partners to turn identified needs in concrete results. Thank you for your attention.

Thank you very much for these insightful interventions. I would like to open the floor for further views and reflections from our distinguished participating countries and international organizations now. So we have Mr. Paulson Panapa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Labor and Trade from Tuvalu. The floor is yours.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. First of all, I want to thank the organizers for convening this very important dialogue. Tuvalu notes the proposal to establish the LDC Green Industrialization Facilitation Mechanism, LDC G-IF, and appreciates the UN Technology Bank's efforts in advancing this key deliverable. of the Doha Programme of Action. The recently launched UNEP Overshoot Report is a stark reminder of the indispensable role of green energy in minimising carbon emissions, critical to the survival of low-lying island states like Tuvalu in the face of climate-induced sea level rise. The recent disruption of global fuel supply through the closure of the Strait of Hormuz hits geographically remote economies like Tuvalu had, further proof that sustained energy security depends on green technologies. For Tuvalu, green industrialization means building resilient, low-carbon productive systems that strengthen energy and food security, connectivity, skills, and livelihoods, while addressing our unique vulnerabilities. We therefore see particular value in the LDC's JIF, demand-driven, country-owned approach Technology solutions must be appropriate to our scale, geography, and local capacity. This could include renewable energy and storage, climate resilient infrastructure, sustainable water and waste management, digital solutions, and technology supporting sustainable fisheries and food systems. We also emphasize that technology transfer must go beyond equipment. It must include skills development, technical assistance, maintenance capacity, knowledge access, project preparation, and long-term institutional support, essential to ensuring technologies remain operational and deliver lasting benefits. Tuvalu welcomes connecting LDC priorities to existing finance rather than creating fragmented new structures. But for small island LDCs, project preparation and access to finance remain significant constraints. Support to move projects from national priorities to bankable investments will be critical. Finally, Tuvalu encourages the LDCG to ensure experience of small island LDCs is fully reflected in its pilot phase and implementation. Green industrialization must be inclusive, resilient, and tailored to national circumstances. Tuvalu stands ready to contribute constructively to this initiative and to strengthen partnerships. that translate technology, finance, and expertise into tangible outcomes for our disease. I thank you, Chair.

Thank you very much, His Excellency. We have Mr. Rashid Al Mahmud Titumir, Minister of Finance and Minister of Planning from Bangladesh. His Excellency, the floor is yours.

Excellency, Mr. Mehmet Fatih Kasir, Under-Secretary-General, High Representative for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS. Excellencies, distinguished participants, let me thank the Government of Turkey and the United Nations Technology Bank for convening the dialogue on the LDC Green Industrialization Facilitation Mechanism, a timely initiative to address LDCs persistent technological gaps and structural constraints towards accelerating green industrialization and transformation for a sustainable planet. Since its establishment in 1971, only eight LDCs have graduated in over five decades. Under the Istanbul Programme of Action, 14 LDCs met the graduation criteria, but only three graduated, underscoring far-sistant capacity gaps and vulnerabilities. As we implement the Doha Programme of Action, progress remains uneven and resource mobilization challenging. We must not repeat the IPO experience. I therefore call for stronger financial, technological, and capacity building support for the DPOA. Excellencies, graduation and sustainable graduations are different. Countries continue to face structural impediments and limited productive capacity compounded by geopolitical conflicts, supply chain disruptions, trade uncertainty, inflation, and domestic shocks. Bangladesh and Nepal, therefore, sought an extension of their preparatory periods. We believe that graduation should strengthen rather than constrain a country's development trajectory and should be supported by adequate measures for a smooth, sustainable, irreversible transition through industrialization and an integrated approach for energy transition for jobs. In this regard, Bangladesh welcomes proposed launch of LDC GIF in COP 31 in November 2026. We welcome the UN Technology Bank's role in strengthening STI capacities and facilitating technology transfer. Yet, actual transfer to LDCs remains modest compared with their needs. We hope LDC GIF will accelerate technology transfer deployment and industrial application. We also welcome in focus on coordinating existing resources rather than creating parallel financing mechanism. However, additional resources, technology and investment will remain essential. Excellencies, for Bangladesh's new government, green industrialization is a national priority. Our five-year strategic framework prioritizes green industries, energy efficiency, waste-to-resource solutions, and low-carbon industrialization. We have also experience to share. Bangladesh has the world's highest number of LEED-certified green factories, with 290, including 69 of the top 100 and 18 of the top 20. We see LDC and JF as a valuable complement, particularly for technology, expertise and partnership. Bangladesh also welcomes consideration as one of the initial 10 pilot LDCs. We stand ready to work with Turkey, the UN Technology Bank and partners to develop bankable, technology intensive green projects and make the LDC-GIF a practical tool for productive capacity, structural transformation, and sustainable graduation. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, His Excellency. Now, I would like to invite the representative of Niger.

Thank you very much. Excellency, the Minister, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, Niger welcomes the initiative by Turkey and is pleased with the holding of this dialogue, which is a concern of the Facilitation Mechanism, GIF, for LDCs. I would like to thank His Excellency, Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir, Minister of Industry Technology of the Republic of Turkey for the conduct of the meeting. For Niger, which is undergoing the effect of climate change and with a huge young population, green industrialization is not an option among others. It is the prerequisite for our economic sovereignty. our national manufacturing sector, which represents only 3.7% of our gross national product, while the country possesses huge resources, agricultural, mining, and oil resources. Our challenge, therefore, is to transform locally these resources to create added value and decent jobs for our population of which half has under 20 years of age. It's precisely this ambition of the national industrial policy, which aligns perfectly with the vision of His Excellency, Mr. President, of which the pillar two projects to make by 2050, we have an industrial fabric that is competitive and low with low emissions. Our industrial portfolio have now 39 projects which are spread in the all eight regions with an investment of 1,094 billion CFA francs, including the special economic zone in Maradi and several other agro industrial transformation units. It's in this spirit that Niger welcomes with particular interest the proposal by Turkey to make the Niamey industrial zone at Bugum one of the first pilot projects under the GIF. So we stand ready to sign the project at the Antalya COP. and to give substance to this joint project. Niger sounds ready to avail to the mechanism. All is bankable ready projects for, in terms of renewable energy, quality chain, and to designate a national focal point for this cooperation. So as you said, Minister, in your opening statement, the LDC GIF is not here to create a new architectural, financial architecture. It will build on what is existing on the basis of national ownership, which is very much aligned with our approach in transforming our industrial ambitions for concrete measurable, and creation of jobs for our young population. Thank you very much for associating us in this.

Thank you. Now I'm pleased to give the floor to the representative of Turkmenistan.

Thank you very much. Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, I thank His Excellency Mehmet Fatih Kadir and our Turkish colleagues for convening this dialogue and for their contribution to this initiative. Turkmenistan welcomes the proposed green industrialization facility as a practical platform connecting technology, investment, and national development priorities. Allow me to emphasize three points. First, technology transfer must lead to concrete development outcomes. We welcome mechanisms that connect governments, international institutions, investors, and technology providers around viable projects and facilitate access to expertise and financing. Second, green industrialization must go hand in hand with sustainable infrastructure and connectivity. This is particularly important for landlocked developing countries where geographical constraints and high transport costs remain major structural challenges. Following LLDCS conference held in Turkmenistan in last year, our country remains committed to implementation of the AVASA program of action for 2024-2034. As the incoming chair of the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries for 2027-2028, we will promote practical partnerships in connectivity, sustainable transport, investment, technology, and economic diversification. Third, implementation must remain at the center of our efforts. International mechanisms should respond to national priorities and deliver tangible results. We see clear potential for synergies between the priorities of LDCs and LLDs, particularly in sustainable energy, green transport technology, transport and infrastructure. Turkmenistan stands ready to engage constructively with Turkey, OHL, the UN Technology Bank and other partners in the LDCGIF advances towards its formal launch at COP31. wish this initiative every success. I thank you.

Thank you. By the way, we are welcoming the COP 31 president and Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Murat Kurum. Now, I would like to give the floor to the Managing Director for Climate Strategy and Delivery of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, EBRD, Mr. Gian Piero Naggi. The floor is yours.

Your Excellencies, colleagues, friends, it's a pleasure being here. I'd like to start commending the Turkish government leadership on this initiative, and particularly your own personal leadership. You are a champion of green industrialization in Turkey, and I'm really glad to see that you are sharing your experience and expertise to support this initiative. EDBRD will strongly support this initiative, we believe is very much needed. I'm not going to repeat all the points made by previous intervention, but one point I'd like to make, which is we're a bit of an historical crossroad where, you know, there is a chance for LDCs to really leapfrog the transformation of their economy, building on green technologies rather than fossil fuels ones. And this is a way to bring them at the forefront of industrial competitiveness on a global level. At DBRD, in fact, this link between green transition and competitiveness is very much at the core of our mandate. and in fact, one of the leading multilateral development bank in financing green industrialization in emerging economies and developing countries. So on this basis, we are happy to share our experience in designing programs, financial products, both through direct delivery channels, but also by leveraging the local financial sectors. Let me come on two points that you made, one, the importance of partnership, this is clearly, that's why we're all here, I guess, But I would like also to invite leveraging, utilizing other and existing instruments. I'm thinking about, for example, the Global Matchmaking Partnership that is delivering connections between donors community and recipient countries, but also regional initiatives like AGI, the African Green Industrialization Initiative, which I think can connect very well in helping the implementation and the delivery of the LDC GIF. And maybe last point, you also emphasize the role of the private sector. I would certainly recommending to give strong emphasis and support to private entrepreneurship. Clearly, an initiative like LDCGF can succeed only by supporting local private sector interventions and initiatives. And with this, I thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Nagy. Now, I would like to give the floor to the director of United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, Dima Al-Hatib. The floor is yours, Her Excellency.

Thank you very much, Excellency, Excellencies, and distinguished guests. Let me also join the colleagues by congratulating the government of Turkey for such an important initiative, actually translating the commitment of the COP into becoming an implementation COP. So thank you for this initiative and congratulations. And also a word of thanks for the government of Turkey's long-term support to the UN Office for South-South Cooperation. And it's also a continuation of the support that we have a joint collaboration with the UN Technology Bank that we intend to also launch at the COP31, bringing an analysis of the technology needs assessments for 15 countries and proposing some of the solutions that are climate-related technologies. And we are more than happy to put this analysis further at the service of the LDC GEF for further investments, hopefully, by other partners. The second thing that I wanted to also mention that a week ago on the UN Day for South-South and triangular cooperation, we launched the Global Alliance on South-South and triangular cooperation. And it's also a perfect platform to also have the LDC Gif as one of the members for further matchmaking and sharing of experiences and also bringing the expertise of the different governments to the other parts of the global south. So, thank you very much and looking forward to working jointly with the UN Technology Bank and the government of CPE. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Miss Al-Hatip. Now, I would like to give the floor to Carla Ferreira, senior partnership specialist from Asian Development Bank.

Thank you, honorable ministers and COP31 presidency of Turkey for this timely initiative. It is a pleasure for ADB to support the Turkish organization of COP31, and we particularly welcome the LDC GIF. ADB is one of the largest multilateral providers of climate finance to low and middle income economies. In 2025, climate finance made-up more than half of all our commitments. Our commitments to LDCs is unshakable, with our own Asian Development Fund providing $5 billion in grants and concessional finance for 2025 to 2028 with priority for these countries. Many of our LDC members are also small island states or face fragile and conflict-affected situations, and we truly see the potential of green industrialization to lift the economies of LDCs. I'll mention four examples, some of which with partners in this room. In Kiribati, $21 million grants for 7.5 megawatts of solar with battery storage, ADB's first energy project there. In Tuvalu, solar and battery storage are replacing imported diesel, including on the outer islands. In Lao PDR, nearly $700 million arranged for the 600 megawatts monsoon wind project, Asia's first cross-border wind project. And in Bangladesh, financing for energy efficient solar powered textile manufacturing in the country's main export sector. The lesson is that results come when technology, infrastructure, project preparation, and finance are delivered together. That appears to be exactly the LDC GIF model, and we are happy to support it. We have three recommendations. First, build on what exists, anchor pilots in national priorities, country platforms, and multilateral development bank pipelines, with MDBs involved in matchmaking from day one. Second, take a differentiated approach for small island and fragile LDCs, include some of them among the 10 pilots, backed by more grant finance, pooled projects, and sustained capacity support. And third, support countries through and beyond LDC graduation. In closing, ADB stands ready to work with Turquia, the Technology Bank, and partners on making LDC GIF a success. And we look forward to the launch at COP31. Thank you.

Thank you. And now, as we look towards the next major milestone in this journey, it's particularly fitting to hear from the leadership of the COP31 presidency. Turkey is honored to host COP31 in Antalya, and the presidency has placed a strong emphasis on accelerating implementation, strengthening international cooperation, and advancing the transformation of key sectors of the global economy. It's therefore my great pleasure to invite His Excellency, Mr. Murat Kurum, Minister of Environment, urbanization and climate change of Turkey and COP 31 President designate to deliver his remarks. Excellency, the floor is yours.

Thank you very much. Distinguished ministers, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. So we have gathered here to speak about something very important. With respect to least developed countries, green industrialization facilitation mechanism is a highly important subject for us as COP31 presidency and it's my honor to be here with you. As the COP31 presidency, we're moving forward, Antalya, with a spirit of dialogue, consensus and action. our priority is to lead a fair and inclusive implementation process that translates climate targets into concrete and measurable outcomes. This is one of the indispensable things for us and we have shaped the action agenda in line with this understanding. We are developing initiatives, partnerships, global commitments, agreements, platforms and implementation tools across various areas from energy to cities, from industry to waste and food systems. They all have a common objective. It is our purpose to turn these into actions. to translate the climate targets into investment, technology, cooperation, and implementation that delivers results in countries. And green industrialization is one of the priority areas of this agenda. Within the scope of our action agenda, we aim to increase the global rate of circular material use in production and manufacturing to at least 15% by the year 2030. 2035, and this transformation will strengthen low emission production, resource efficiency and circularity, while also contributing to countries' competitiveness, economic resilience, employment and development. In line with this objective, we are continuing our preparations for the ministerial roundtable on green industrialization, which we will convene at COP31, and for the Atlantic Green Industrialization Compact, the Circular Economy Knowledge Sharing Platform, the Artificial Intelligence for Clean Technology Initiative, and the Least Developed Countries Green Industrialization Facilitation Mechanism, LDCGF. which brings us together today, are also among our concrete efforts to translate the Green Industrialization Agenda into implementation. The broader international cooperation under the Global Green Industrialization Agenda is being developed under the leadership of UNIDO and supported by COP31 presidency. And We believe this initiative is a very concrete step. However, for green industrialization to become a truly global transformation, it is not sufficient for this to take place only in economies with strong industrial capacity and access to finance. The 44 least developed countries account for approximately 14% of the world population. On the other hand, These countries represent only around 1% of the global gross domestic product, and this actually shows us how critical it is. And their share in the world trade and global manufacturing is also extremely limited. Therefore, one of the most important things for us will be not to further increase this gap. On the contrary, we would like to open a new space for these countries, especially for the countries that have begun to create their industrial capacity. Now, there is a very significant opportunity. because they are able to establish the production infrastructure from the outset in a clean, efficient and resilient manner. There is an opportunity here and we wish that LDCs actually make use of this opportunity because an investment, the factory that is being built today is not actually an investment for today. Their energy systems and industrial infrastructure will be used for long times. And the technology choices made today will determine a country's production structure, competitiveness and emissions for decades to come. As you know, Turkey experienced an earthquake on February the 6th and that was the disaster of the century and we built 450,000 apartments in just two years and these buildings are consuming 39% less energy as compared to the past. So we are actually using 39% less energy today. Therefore, the understanding of the circular economy and green decentralization brings along these opportunities and we have to seize these opportunities. Therefore, the list we have to enable the least developed countries to grow without becoming dependent on high emission and inefficient technologies. And we have to set our approach properly. We should see these LDCs not merely as recipients of support, but also as partners that define their own development and industrialization priorities and help shape solutions. And LDC-GIF has actually stemmed from this need. It is precisely in response to these needs that under the leadership of the Ministry of Industry and Technology of Turkey and with the United Nations Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries assuming the role of central secretariat, we plan to globally launch the Least Developed Countries Green Industrialization Facilitation Mechanism at COP31. So what will this mechanism do? In essence, the significance of the LDC JIF does not lie in establishing a new financing structure. Rather, it lies in connecting countries' identified needs and project components with appropriate technologies, successful practices, technical capacity, infrastructure, and existing financing opportunities. So we will bring together the funds at AFD or EBRD with the projects in the LDCs. And hopefully, we will make sure that the LDCs have an understanding to seize these opportunities. Actually, we don't aim to create a new financing mechanism. We actually would like to strengthen the link between the needs and the facilities. On one hand, there are the needs of the countries that they have identified in accordance with their priorities. And on the other hand, there are successful implementations, technical capacity, and existing financing facilities. And LDC GEF will bring together these two. Every country has a different level of industrialization, and this mechanism will work with a country-oriented approach. And this way, the technical support will not be limited to reports only, but will be transformed into implementable projects, investment opportunities, and long-term productive capacity. Actually, this connection that we are trying to create is very clear. This extends from project development to international cooperation and then implementation. Therefore, we see the Least Developed Countries Green Industrialization Facilitation Mechanism not mainly as a project development tool, but as an international cooperation platform that will help prevent least developed countries from being left behind in the green transformation. And dear participants, this initiative will also be a part of the broader global green industrialization agenda, which carries continuity across COPs. And we will also be transferring our experience to COP32, which will be hosted by Ethiopia in 2027. As you know, 2 billion people are still unable to access to power, electricity, and are not able to use clean cooking facilities. So we have to transform this all together. And the success of green industrialization will depend on all of us. So I believe there is a very significant opportunity for these countries who have not yet started their industries. They don't have to depend on the technologies of the past. They can indeed build their industries on a clean and independent system and This will help the countries to benefit from the development opportunities offered by this transformation because the future of green industrialization will not be decided by the developed countries. It will be decided by the countries that have started their industrialization only recently. And we would like to make sure that no one is left behind at COP31, as we always say, and we would like to create a strong ground. I came here from another meeting and I would like to apologize you all for being late. I have to attend another meeting and at COP31 We wish to enable the fulfillment of this initiative and we will launch all together. We will say stop to this bad course all together and we are actually the latest generation to change this course and we have to take on this challenge all together. Thank you all very much.

Thank you very much, Excellency, for your remarks and for reaffirming the strong commitment of the COP31 presidency to advancing meaningful and inclusive climate action. Thank you. Now we will have last two interventions. First, I would like to give the floor to the representative of Russian Federation, please.

Your Excellency, Minister, dear Excellencies, distinguished guests, we first of all would like to thank the Republic of Turkey and UN OHR LLS for convening this important dialogue and introducing the LDC chief ahead of COP 31. The Russian Federation has consistently supported the least developed countries in their pursuit of sustainable development and structural transformation. We as well remain committed to the Doha Program of Action As we have been reminded today, LDCs hold nearly 15% of the world population, but only 1.3% of global manufacturing value added. And closing this gap requires productive capacity, local value addition, and decent job creations with access to technology and technology transfer at the core. And in this context, the GIF facility is indeed expected to make a crucial contribution. We recognize the mechanisms country owned and demand driven approach. Each LDC must be free to choose its own path to industrialization. As for the green industrialization, we believe that the feasible way is the technology neutral approach that allows LDCs to draw on the full range of clean solutions, including natural gas and nuclear energy. Such industrialization should widen LDCs options and not add new conditionalities. We acknowledge the role of the UN Technology Bank as secretariat and encourage close coordination with UNIDO, UNCTAD and other UN entities to avoid any duplication and just to reinforce cooperation. And we stand ready to engage constructively in this work. And thank you for giving the floor.

Thank you. And now for the last intervention, I'd like to give the floor to the representative of Deloitte. No? Okay. Okay, then I would like to make my closing remarks. Honorable ministers, excellencies, distinguished participants, thank you for the clarity, substance, and commitment you have brought to this dialogue. We came together to introduce the LDC GIF and, more importantly, to listen to your views and shape the mechanism together. Our exchange has confirmed both the need for the mechanism and the strong interest in building it collectively. We heard directly from countries and institutions about the priorities and circumstances of least developed countries. We also heard what's needed to turn green industrialization ambitions into well-prepared, implementable projects. Access to technology and technical expertise, infrastructure, capacity building, and fit-for-purpose finance. These contributions will guide the next phase of our work. They also reinforce a central principle. The LDCGIF must be demand-driven, and grounded in priorities identified by LDCs themselves. Our one conclusion stands out. Green industrialization requires technology matched with local capacity, finance linked to well-prepared projects, and action aligned with national priorities. The LDC-GIF is designed to make those connections by linking country needs with expertise, technology, project development, and finance. The willingness expressed here to provide technical cooperation, technology partnerships, peer learning, project preparation, capacity support and finance shows that the right partners are ready to engage. Our task now is to turn this readiness into a shared program of work. In the months ahead, we will work with LDCs and all partners to refine the mechanism, identify priority initiatives, and build the partnerships needed for delivery. Our shared objective is to launch the LDC-GI-F at COP31 as a practical platform shaped by LDCs and ready to move from ambition to investment. The foundation for that platform is already visible. LDCs and partner countries, United Nations entities, and international financial institutions have come together around a shared vision. The cooperation and synergy created here will be among the mechanism's greatest assets and a key factor in its success. Turkey, as the incoming COP31 presidency and host country of the UN Technology Bank for LDCs, stands ready to facilitate this process. We will continue to provide our full support so that this cooperation grows stronger. I invite all of you to remain closely engaged and help turn this commitment into a mechanism that delivers concrete results for least developed countries. Let me once again thank all of you for your constructive engagement and readiness to contribute. We now have the determination to carry this momentum to COP31, launch the LDC-GIF together, and move to implementation. I look forward to welcoming each of you in Antalya at COP 31. Thank you very much.