(4th meeting) High-Level Political Forum 2026

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As usual, they're late. Hm? As usual.

The fourth meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council at its This 2026 session is called to order. Excellencies, dear colleagues, distinguished participants, I invite the Forum to resume its consideration of Agenda Item 2. Transformative, equitable, innovative, and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for a sustainable future for all. We shall First, here the introduction of the progress report on the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns. I am pleased— I am pleased to welcome the Chair of the Board of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, Ms. Annika Lindblom, Director for International and EU Affairs in the Ministry of the Environment of Finland, and I invite her to introduce the report as contained in the document E/2013/1. 2026/60. You have the floor, Madam.

Thank you, President. Distinguished Vice President of the ECOSOC, Excellencies, Ministers, Permanent Representatives, delegates. The 10-Year Framework of Programs on Sustainable Consumption and Production, the 10YFP, is a universal framework to accelerate the shift to sustainable consumption and production at national, regional, and global levels. The 10YFP is part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, being the first target of SDG 12 and a framework of reference for decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation in SDG 8. In accordance with its mandate, the 10YFP prepares an annual progress report demonstrating progress achieved during the year based on reporting of member states and stakeholders. And as chair of the 10YFP board, I have the privilege of presenting the key findings of the report to you today. This year's report based on the period from January to December 2025, seeks to update member states and stakeholders on the implementation of the 10YFP and the implementation of the Global Strategy on Sustainable Consumption and Production. Distinguished delegates, from this comprehensive progress report prepared by the 10YFP Secretariat, I wish to firstly share the following spotlight of examples of concrete results and achievements for your consideration. The official SDG 12.1.1 reporting from member states demonstrated an increase in national SEP policy action with 86 new policy instruments submitted in '25, a 14% increase over '24. The implementation of sustainable public procurement was strengthened in high-impact sectors, including buildings and construction, information and communication technology, and food. The program delivered on technical tools and platforms, peer learning, and country engagement to support more circular and responsible procurement practices and operationalize commitments. For consumer information, progress was made toward— towards credible product sustainability information. Regional eco-label harmonization was advanced, including mutual recognition agreements for cement and concrete products in Asia. The Environmental Alliance of Americas was supported by the One Planet Network to become the first regional eco-label in Latin America and the Caribbean, covering a market of over 300 million people across 7 high-impact product categories. Progress was also made towards interoperable digital product information systems, such as digital product passports. For sustainable lifestyles and education, 1,500 students received practical tools on practices to to build green and future-oriented skills, and countries received support in developing green jobs policies. The 10YFP, with its UN partners, supported countries in the identification of measurable climate mitigation opportunities and socioeconomic benefits for circular economy measures, strengthening NDC ambition for the generation of NDCs 3.0. For sustainable tourism, progress was delivered on climate action and circularity by supporting 127 climate action plans under the Glasgow Declaration, mobilizing 271 organizations through the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, and providing implementation support across destinations including small, small island developing, developing states. For food systems, country-driven cooperation was strengthened for resilient, equitable, and environmentally sustainable food systems. And the 10YP Secretariat continued to strengthen the One Planet Network as a platform for implementation and knowledge exchange on sustainable consumption and production, now counting 10,282 active members. Now, taking into account and building on these results and achievements across '25, the following key messages are shared for the consideration of member states and stakeholders. Firstly, sustainable public procurement, SPP, serves as a practical lever to reshape markets and help value chains meet sustainability requirements. In '25, SPP continued to demonstrate its value SPP is seen by the OECD as one of the most immediate and scalable tools available to governments to steer markets toward low-carbon, climate-resilient, resource-efficient, and circular solutions. Alongside economic and fiscal measures, SPP can help mobilize and direct private investment. Increasing SPP in high-impact sectors such as construction, infrastructure, and food systems systems can stimulate innovation, create decent work and green jobs, reduce waste, and improve value for money in public expenditure. Therefore, it can enhance the achievement of national climate, biodiversity, and pollution objectives and strengthen supply chain resilience. The 10YFP Board hereby urges the member states to drive sustainable public procurement procurement as a means of supporting SCP transitions on a worldwide scale. Secondly, by scaling and improving access to reliable and transparent product sustainability information, markets can be more informed, fair, competitive, and trustworthy. By harmonizing sustainability disclosures, credible eco-labels, and interoperable digital product information systems, market oversight will improve, and the scope for greenwashing reduced. These actions can promote positive consumer behavior through responsible consumer choices while leveling the playing field for sustainable businesses and SMEs and supporting the emergence of circular business models in harmony with nature, resulting in shared prosperity for all. Thirdly— sorry, therefore, we urge concerted efforts across member states to scale up harmonized sustainability disclosures, credible eco-labels, and interoperable systems. And now, thirdly, governments are increasingly recognizing the social and economic benefits from the integration of SCP and circularity into climate strategies and biodiversity plans, as well as national development plans and procurement frameworks. More governments— more governments are viewing these approaches as opportunities to build resilience, boost competitiveness, support domestic industries, and strengthen long-term sustainable development. Therefore, we see that there should be greater support for integrating SCP and circularity into multilateral Multilateral Environmental Agreements implementation by providing technical input and coordinated engagement with national focal points across UN processes. At the same time, there is a growing recognition that the transition towards SCP should be inclusive and people-centered, ensuring that workers, SMEs, and vulnerable communities are supported through the transition process. Ladies and gentlemen, together these three levers—efficient public spending, transparent markets, and SCP—as a coherent approach to the interconnected environmental challenges, they illustrate how the 10YFP supports responsible, resilient, just and equitable sustainable development. Furthermore, these levers strengthen fiscal efficiency, stimulate innovation, broaden market opportunities, and enhance the resilience of domestic industries. Greater investments are required also for financing SDG 12, especially in developing countries, for awareness generation, education, and capacity building, extending across all sectors of society. There is also a need for developed countries and countries with high consumption patterns to take the lead in adopting sustainable lifestyle practices and supporting global transitions. Sustainable consumption and production should increasingly focus on locally relevant innovation ecosystems where scientific knowledge, public policy, entrepreneurship, and community experience converge to address the distinct structural and economic challenges faced by the Global South. For emerging economies, SCP can evolve beyond an environmental agenda to become a catalyst for productivity, employment generation, and more inclusive growth. Developing countries continue to face the challenge of advancing sustainability while simultaneously addressing poverty, poverty alleviation, alleviation, energy access, and employment needs. The future relevance of sustainable consumption and production will increasingly depend on their capacities to strengthen livelihoods, build resilient— resilience, and create more equitable opportunities. Progress should therefore require greater emphasis on inclusive pathways that enhance local capabilities, support the communities, and value traditional knowledge and be grounded in local contexts. In closing, Excellencies, as Chair of the 10YFB Board, I urge you all to read the report in full, to consider firsthand the transformative opportunities that sustainable consumption and production can bring for nature, for people, and for planet. I believe that the results are compelling and demonstrate I believe that the 10YFP as a global commitment convened by UNEP will continue to have a critical role in accelerating the achievement of the SDGs also in the future. I thank you all.

I thank Miss Annika Lindblom, the Chair of the Board of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns. I now briefly pause the meeting for the podium to be rearranged for the next discussion. Please, please remain seated. Dear colleagues. Excellencies, dear colleagues, I invite the Forum to resume its consideration of sub-item of Agenda Item 2, Review of Sustainable Development Goals 6, 7, 9, 11, and 17. And now, now the Forum will hold an interactive panel discussion on SDG 9 and inter-leakage with other SDGs, meaning industry, innovation, and infrastructure. Before we begin our discussion, I invite you to watch a short video highlighting key findings from the recently released 2026 SDG Progress Report related to Goal 9 on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. This brief overview will help set the scene and provide useful context for our deliberations today. Please play the video.

Global progress under SDG 9 reflects meaningful advances across trade, manufacturing, innovation, and connectivity. In 2024, global seaborne trade reached an estimated 24.1 billion metric tons, an increase of 16% from 2015. Yet maritime trade is operating in an increasingly volatile environment. Global manufacturing growth rose 2.7% in 2025. Between 2015 and 2025, manufacturing value added per capita rose 18.1%. Yet rising trade tensions, tariffs, and geopolitical instability are disrupting supply chains and driving up costs. Global research and development expenditure rose from 1.71% to 1.92% of GDP between 2015 and 2023, while the global research workforce expanded steadily. However, many developing regions still invest less than 1% of GDP in research and development and lag far behind in research capacity. By 2025, 5G networks covered 55% of the world's population and mobile broadband reached 96%. Yet only 4% of people in low-income countries have access to 5G. Scaling investment in resilient infrastructure, sustainable industrialization and innovation, Alongside stronger international support for research and development, finance and technology in developing countries is essential to drive inclusive, sustainable industrial growth. Find more insights in the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026.

Good. I am now pleased to welcome our guest speakers as well as our moderator, Mrs. Fatou Haidara, Deputy to the Director-General and Managing Director of the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations at UNIDO. I now hand over the conduct of the discussion to the moderator. You have the floor, madam.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President, for the introduction, for giving me the floor. I'm very happy to be with you today and to be your moderator for this session. UNIDO has had the privilege of co-leading the preparatory process for the in-depth review of SDG 9 together with UN DESA in line with our mandate of inclusive and sustainable industrial development. As part of this process, we convened the Global Expert Group meeting in Vienna to inform the substantive review. So, to help set the scene for our session today, allow me to share some of its key findings and recommendations. One message emerged clearly: SDG 9 is not just one goal among many. It is the production engine of the 2030 Agenda. Infrastructure, industry, and innovation are the systems that generate jobs, raise productivity, enable technological progress, and support sustainable economic transformation. The current picture is one of both progress and challenges. On the positive side, investments in research and development continue to grow by more than 5% annually, while digital connectivity has expanded rapidly with 96% of the world's population now covered by mobile network. There are also signs of progress on sustainability. Improvements in industrial efficiency have begun to decouple manufacturing output from CO2 emissions in some sectors. However, overall industrial emissions remain high and the transition to more sustainable production system is still far from complete. However, industrialization has stalled in several regions and infrastructure gaps remain large. For example, while medium and high technology manufacturing accounts for around 48% of manufacturing output in Europe and North America, the share is only 16% in Sub-Saharan Africa, among others. Moreover, although manufacturing value added per capita has reached record levels globally, this has not translated into broad-based job creation. Progress towards SDG 9 is taking place in a rapidly changing global environment shaped by 3 major transformations. First, the return of industrial policy as a central economic tool, increasingly linked to economic security, technological competitiveness, and the green transition. Second, the reshaping of global supply chains geopolitical tensions and the energy transition, which is driving demand for critical minerals. Third, the rise of digital technologies and AI in production, creating new opportunities for productivity and innovation while exposing persistent digital divides both within and between countries. Against this backdrop, the expert review identified 9 key policy priorities for member states to consider in their efforts to advance SDG 9. The first one, strengthen mission-oriented and adaptive industrial policies. Second, create predictable and inclusive regulatory environment. Three, mobilizing financing. For structural transformation, including through blended financing. Build integrated industrial ecosystem and promote circular value chains. Invest in resilient and enabling infrastructure. Recognize data and digital system as strategic infrastructure. Strengthen skills, innovation, and the diffusion of technology. Adopt system-based evidence driven approaches to policymaking. And last, ensure that industrial development is inclusive, creating opportunities for women, youth, and small enterprises. What also emerged clearly from the review is that accelerating progress towards SDG 9 requires integrated systems of industry, infrastructure, innovation, finance, skills, trade, climate action, all that working together. With this in mind, I now have the honor to introduce the distinguished panelists on the podium with me today. We have on my right side Mr. Claverde Gatete, the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa. Mr. Gatete is a seasoned economist and senior UN official with deep expertise in Africa's development landscape, having previously served as Minister of Finance and Economic Planning and Minister of Infrastructure of Rwanda, among others. I also now want to extend a warm welcome to Mr. John Denton, the Secretary-General of the International Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Denton is a global business leader and international advisor on trade and investment policy, appointed by the UN Secretary-General to represent the global private sector on the steering committee of the UN Global Crisis Response Group on food, energy, and finance. We are also joined today by Mr. Mark Major, Chair of the Sustainable Low Carbon Transport Partnership Board and Senior Strategy Director at the Kun Climate Center. Mr. Major has focused his work on transport and climate change over the last 20 years, advising countries such as China, Chile, Costa Rica, and Morocco on their transport decarbonization strategies previously also working on transport and environmental issues for the European Commission. Thank you all for joining us today. Before we begin, let me briefly outline the format of our discussion. We'll have two rounds of questions. I kindly ask each panelist to limit their responses to a maximum of 3 minutes to allow sufficient time for an interactive discussion. Following the panel, I will invite our lead discussant to make an intervention. With that, let us now turn to the core of our discussion. I will start with one question to all panelists and— The question is as follows: Given the current context characterized by geopolitical tensions, climate pressure, digital transformation, and the financing gap, what actions should governments and the international community prioritize to accelerate sustainable industrialization, innovation, and infrastructure? I would like here to begin with my first panelist, Mr. Gatete. I give you the floor.

Yeah, thank you very much. I won't be long. I just wanted to say that Africa is really a continent that everybody is looking at now, a continent of 1.5 billion people, a continent that is now— exceeds— has a combined GDP of more than 3.4 trillion $1 trillion, a continent that has the largest youth that you can find anywhere and who are going to be really the largest in terms of employment, labor force by 2035. However, for development of Africa, there are three things that are very, very key. One is trade and investment. Second is scaling up financial resources. Third The third is Africa Continental Free Trade Area implementation. It's a trading bloc for African continent. Since Africa has been trading with each other at around 15%, now it has gone up to 17% and we want to make sure that is accelerated. The fourth one is technology. Although we are still lagging behind, now at 37% access to internet compared to 67% global average. And to do this, we need 4 things. One is the development of the industries— industries at the country level, industries at the regional level. At the country level, we need to make sure that once you create the industries, there is also the special economic zones where we can be able to manage and organize how industries are located. And that's why you find that this time the contribution of industries to GDP is one of the lowest anywhere in any country on the African continent. Without industries, you cannot definitely progress. So the regional value chains, the Economic Commission for Africa has identified 94 of them, and we're working on these regional value chains to make sure we can add value and then be able to export finished goods. You know, if you go on the streets here and you ask anybody where chocolate comes from, they all will tell you Switzerland. And yet we have Côte d'Ivoire, we have Ghana, who are the largest producers. If you ask them where coffee comes from, they will tell you Starbucks. They won't tell you any country. And that's why I want to demystify this kind of myth that has been there for a long time. Secondly, we also need industries at the regional level. That's what we call the regional value chains, and that's what you're working on, which is very important. But also the infrastructure. If you want to trade, you have to make sure that you move goods across the borders, and that's why the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area becomes very important. The Northern Corridor, the Central Corridor, the Robito Corridor, and that's how we trade, and linking them with all the ports, over 150 ports on the African continent, and that's how we are going to make sure that the continent develops at a fast rate. Finally, we also have finance, and finance here we are focusing on domestic resource mobilization. Our tax-to-GDP ratio on the African continent is only 16%. Compared to 34% in Europe. So that one we are still lagging far behind and that's why we're working through the whole value chain of how to increase our taxation and also develop our capital market which actually helps in terms of long-term resources for private sector investment. And finally, technology. Definitely the introduction of the broadband and satellite infrastructure is very critical for for accelerating the implementation of the SDGs. I heard the bell, so I don't want to take much of the time, but I wanted to say that these things, once that's done, it's going to help us in terms of the implementation and acceleration of the Sustainable Development Goals. Thank you so much.

Thank you very much, Mr. Gatete, for highlighting why SDG 9 matters to Africa's structural transformation. And their Agenda 2063, and also for sharing with us how ECA is supporting member states to turn SDG 9 into action. Let me now turn to our next panelist, Mr. Denton. I give you the floor for the same question.

Thank you very much, and it's great to be with you. Let's make a couple of points. First, we're meeting at a moment when the world can no longer afford the gap between aspiration and implementation. Time is actually running out. We don't need more declarations. What we actually need are practical, scalable solutions that deliver peace, prosperity, and opportunity. That's why this development goal actually matters. Industrialization, innovation, and resilient infrastructure are not simply one Sustainable Development Goal among 17. They are actually the engine that powers almost all the others. Friends, without roads, without ports, without energy, without digital connectivity and productive industries, progress on health, education, food security, and climate action will, I'm afraid, always fall short. And yet, in 2026, the gap between what we know is possible and what we are actually delivering remains and is growing far too wide. Closing that gap requires one— and I say one fundamental shift. We must create the conditions for private capital to flow at scale into sustainable infrastructure and productive investment, particularly in emerging and developing economies. The reality is quite straightforward. The world, my friends, is not short of capital; it is short of investable opportunities. Capital is waiting, investors are looking, the technology exists. What is too often missing is an enabling environment that gives businesses the confidence to invest. As Secretary-General of the International Chamber of Commerce, and we represent more than 50 million businesses in more than 170 countries, 70% of which is in the Global South, I see this every day. Companies want to invest, they want to innovate, they want to build factories, expand infrastructure, create jobs and bring new technologies to market. But too often they face regulatory uncertainty, financing gaps and risk frameworks that commercially viable projects cannot finance. The greatest barrier to achieving this goal, the Sustainable Development Goal, is no longer a lack of ambition. It's the inability to translate opportunity into investment. Nowhere is this clearer than in climate-vulnerable and developing economies. Africa possesses around 60% of the world's solar potential, yet it attracts only 2% of global solar investment. Friends, this is not a failure of resources, it's actually a failure of the investment ecosystem. Governments therefore, your governments, have a critical role to play. They must provide what investors value most. Guess what that is? That's certainty. Clear, long-term policy direction. Predictable regulation, efficient permitting, strong institutions, and investment frameworks that endure beyond electoral cycles. At the same time, multilateral development banks must continue evolving, evolving from institutions that primarily mitigate risk to institutions that actively mobilize private investment. That means scaling blended finance, expanding equity participation, supporting early-stage project preparation, and using scarce public capital to crowd in much larger pools of private finance. But I believe there's an even bigger conversation we now need to have. We must ask whether parts of the global financial architecture are actually holding back sustainable investment in the countries where it is needed. There is growing evidence that aspects of macroprudential regulation and financial stability frameworks discourage long-term investments into clean energy, infrastructure, industrial development and Africa and other emerging economies. We know that financial stability is essential, but stability and development should not be treated as competing objectives. Our regulatory framework should protect the financial system while also recognizing the long-term value of sustainable productive investment. This is not about mobilizing more finance, it's about mobilizing finance more intelligently. And this is something we need to work on. And the secret to that will be mobilizing through the G20 to instruct the Financial Stability Board to modernize its macroprudential frameworks, and that is in the gift of nation states and that is in the gifts of the leadership of the G20, and frankly, it's something whose time has come. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Denton, for highlighting the importance of enabling regulatory frameworks to mobilize not more financing but smarter financing, in particular in developing countries. Now I turn to Mr. Major for 3 minutes, same question. Thank you. I want to pick up on the contribution of freight and logistics systems to the sustainable industrialization and trade that were mentioned by the previous panelists.

So of course, as you all know, freight and logistics systems are key to trade and regional development, but actually have a much broader contribution to sustainable development. They are essential for affordable access to food and basic goods, and in times of crisis, for example, high oil prices, the impact on the cost of goods for some of the most vulnerable people can be dramatic. But these freight and logistics systems are also essential for an equitable climate transition, and they are key to stability, strategic autonomy, and resilience. And in particular, in times of crisis, Freight and logistics systems are key to emergency response and recovery. So we feel that this broader contribution of freight and logistics systems to sustainable development should be recognized and there's currently a significant policy and investment gap. For example, Agenda 2030, the document that we're all discussing here and that you all know well, does not mention freight or logistics systems at all. This is a policy and investment opportunity that is largely neglected. For comparison, energy is mentioned 18 times in the document. So the second point I want to make relates to the system, the freight and logistics system. It's very important to understand that these systems are not just infrastructure, but are made up with operations, equipment, workforce, and supporting systems. And it's only when these four elements are working together does the freight and logistics systems function. Too often the focus is only on infrastructure, and actually the best value investments, the best return on your money, may be in some other elements of the, of those five parts of the system. For example, in my country, the United Kingdom, the railway system is very vulnerable to flooding, so in times of floods, the railway companies have a plan to run longer trains at slower speeds. So this is an operational change which means that they can keep the system moving in times of a flood without the incredibly massive investments which would be required on the infrastructure. So these smart alternatives can be a way forward. The final point, and here I'm— we didn't coordinate in advance, but I'm going to repeat the message of the previous speaker, is the single most important measure is to recognize that freight and logistics systems are largely a matter for private business— importers, exporters, operators, logistics service providers, etc. And these actors have an interest and an ability to invest in better systems. So again, it's a question of the framework. So this is a call for public policy that needs to reduce risk and create the incentives for those investments. So this is really a call to close this policy and investment gap on freight and logistics systems for these broader contributions to sustainable development, not just trade, but access to food and basic goods, resilience, strategic autonomy, and the climate transition. Thank you, Mr. Major, for reminding us how freight and logistics systems play a significant role in trade and industrial development. I thank you all for your thoughtful reflections on this question. Now, I would like us to delve deeper into some of the issues that have emerged from our discussion. So, Mr. Gatete, I will be starting with you. Africa holds immense potential, as you also mentioned, with the clear ambition for structural transformation and regional integration as anchored in the Fourth Industrial Development Decade for Africa recently adopted by the UN General Assembly. Question: From your perspective, what are the main barriers keeping countries from moving up value chains, and which reforms or cooperation mechanisms show the greatest potential to unlock productive transformation?

Yeah, thank you very much, really, for that. We still have a lot of gaps, really, constraints on the African continent, no doubt, and one of them is industrialization. Just to give you an example, My brother here, the President, his country is one of the countries that are producing medicines, vaccines, and we are importing 70% of all the medicines on the African continent. That one shows really how low the industrialization is. And in addition to that, for you to develop the industries, you need energy, and the energy deficit is so significant, and as I said yesterday, We have 600 million Africans who don't even have access to electricity. I'm not talking about energy. So there is a lot, and yet you have the largest potential for solar energy, for hydro energy, for geothermal, and for wind energy. And some of the countries in North Africa, for example, Morocco is now trying to export to London, and Egypt is trying to export to Greece and other areas. And now we are creating the regional power pools so that you can now trade energy like any other commodity, and that's how it can help in terms of industrialization. That's one of them. The other one is the financing gap, and that's why with the decline of aid, development aid, and also the decline of the concessional resources, now the countries are looking inward for domestic resource mobilization and also the development of the capital markets. Because there's nowhere else to go, and that's why we are trying to raise our own domestic resources, our tax-to-GDP ratio, as I mentioned, from 16% to above 20% on average. And this one is something that is really going to help, and also focusing on the capital market development. And on this one here, we are also developing our Africa financial architecture, because every time we talked about financial architecture, We are looking outside the continent. But our assets which are being now kept outside the continent, now we have identified they are more than $4 trillion. If you look at the sovereign wealth funds, look at our pension and other resources that are kept outside, it is more than $4 trillion. We are working with African Development Bank to see how these resources can be brought back on the continent and then be used by the African Development Bank to leverage the private resources so that this could be available for the African continent. Third, it's the credit rating that we are working on. There is a perception, and that's why we are working seriously on this one, to make sure that to increase the number of countries which are investment grade. We now have 3 countries that are investment grade. We have Botswana, we have Mauritius, and we have— and we have Morocco. Only 3 on the whole continent of 54 countries. So you can imagine we are working with so many countries to see how we can raise their credit rating and also trying to make sure that we have the Africa credit rating agencies that can supplement others in terms of giving us the proper rating. Fourth, we are also looking at the debt issue. The debt has been a very big constraint here and that is really— most of the countries are having a problem with the fiscal space. Especially with no other resources coming from everywhere. So we are assisting them in terms of the macroeconomic framework and also making sure that they come up with a common position on the debt issues which African Union has led. Now, on the key reforms that have been done, let me cite two of them. One of them that is so important is the organization of the Africa within the African Union Commission. That way it has allowed to come up with the Vision 2063, which is really a 50-year vision with a 10-year implementation program and 7 moonshots that is helping and has so many policies on technology, on energy, on infrastructure, on transport. At least there is a harmonized common position by Africa and there is a vision that we are trying to implement. Second, there is Africa Continental Free Trade Area, which is really a trading platform that is helping that Africa Goods and services can now cross the borders and be traded on the African continent on finished products, not on raw materials. And they have taken that kind of policy which is very, very useful. And that's why the focus on energy is to make sure that you can drive those industries but also invest heavily into the infrastructure where goods can flow freely from ports to the infrastructure for all parts of the continent. And I think those two are very critical to make sure that they can make a difference in terms of achieving the sustainable development goals that we are talking about. At least they are organized, there is organization into that. So I want to stop here, but I could say as much as you want, but I wanted just to say that at least there is organization, there is a direction, there is a vision, and the rest is now how to do the implementation. Thank you so much.

Thank you very much, Mr. Gatete, for this important and concrete contributions that would accelerate Africa's industrialization. Now I turn to Mr. Denton. The private sector plays a critical role in terms of Investment, innovation, and technology diffusion. In your view, which policy frameworks and partnership models are proving most effective in mobilizing private investment, supporting SMEs, and ensuring that industrial transformation remains both competitive and socially inclusive? You have the floor.

Thank you very much. At its core, the success or failure of this Sustainable Development Goal will be determined by the answer to one simple question: Can we unlock private investment, innovation, and technology at the scale the world needs? Friends, governments set the rules, but it is business that builds the infrastructure, deploys new technologies, strengthens supply chains, and creates the jobs that drive inclusive growth. The challenge is that private capital does not invest on hope, it invests on confidence, and today confidence is being undermined by uncertainty, and I mentioned that previously. Private finance mobilization remains well below what is required to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. At the same time, an increasingly fragmented global economy is reducing investment in economic activity by US$400 billion every year. And guess who bears the biggest burden of that? It's small-medium enterprises. We've done the research, we've done the economic analysis to show this. That tells us something very important. The best policies are not necessarily the most complicated. They are the ones that reduce friction, lower risk, and create certainty. Trade is one of the most powerful tools that we have to achieve that, and it's great to hear the focus of that are you and ICA. Trade facilitation and digitalization make it easier and cheaper for businesses, especially SMEs, to participate in global markets. Through the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, which we run at the ICC, and the ICC's Digital Standards Initiative, we are working with governments to remove the practical barriers and create interoperable digital systems that will allow businesses to trade with greater confidence and with certainty. But lasting transformation cannot be designed in boardrooms or imposed from outside. It must be built through genuine partnership. Governments, international institutions, and business need to design solutions together from the very beginning, not have them imposed upon them.. And those solutions must be grounded in local ownership, empowering entrepreneurs and businesses that understand their markets and scale opportunity from within. We should not be afraid of profit. That is why SMEs must be at the heart of our strategy. They are the backbone of every economy here, yet too many will struggle to access finance, technology, and international markets. Our objective should be practical.— help SMEs access capital, adopt digital tools, connect to global value chains, and compete across borders. Development banks also have a pivotal role. Their success should be measured not simply by how much they lend, but how much private capital they actually mobilize. Today, more than half of mobilized private finance flows to middle-income economies, while least developed countries receive only about 12%. That reminds us that we must become much better at investing in higher-risk markets, build our risk appetite, understand the risks, and actually find a way to work our way through. This is where guarantees, blended finance, first loss mechanisms, project preparation investment become so important. Used well, scarce public capital can unlock multiples on investment. And ultimately SMEs are not simply beneficiaries of development, Friends, they are the drivers of development. When a small business in Accra, in Jakarta, or in Bogotá can access finance, connect to digital trade networks, and reach international customers, we are doing far more than supporting a single enterprise. We are creating jobs, strengthening resilience, and accelerating industrialization, and we are bringing this Sustainable Development Goal to life, not as an aspiration, but as an engine of sustainable growth. Thank you.

Indeed, Mr. Denton, you underscored the role of public-private partnerships and also development banks in unlocking investment for SMEs and also the role of trade facilitation in removing barriers to trade, so thank you for that. Now I turn to Mr. Major for the next question. As countries seek to strengthen supply chains, improve regional connectivity, and meet their climate goals, transport infrastructure is essential. Drawing on your experience, which policy approaches have proven most effective in helping developing countries integrate transport into their industrial and infrastructure strategies? The floor is yours.

Thank you. It's important to understand that the logistics costs for low and middle income countries can be 5 times higher than in high income countries. So when this is applied to basic goods, food, commodities, this is why they have such a dramatic increase, impact on the cost of goods. Safe, clean, and efficient logistics systems mean lower costs, and so we would make 4 recommendations to reduce logistics costs. Firstly is to understand the importance of intelligent industrial planning. Transport distances, flows, and modes of transport are the key determinants of costs and environmental impacts. Industrial policy and land use planning should co-locate resources, processing, and consumption as much as possible to minimize ton-kilometers and maximize the opportunity to use efficient and safe mass modes of transport like rail and waterborne transport. The second point is that transport investments are too often led by passenger transport thinking. Passenger and freight transport systems are distinct, although they do overlap. Their differences— different actors, different services, different economics— need to be understood and taken into account in policy and investments. Too often freight transport is an afterthought, so a key message is to give careful attention to freight and logistics systems when developing transport policy and prioritizing your investments. I already mentioned, already mentioned the importance of understanding the different elements of the system. Don't only focus on infrastructure. Think about the workforce. Think about the equipment. Think about the operations and the supporting systems. This is where you can find the best value investments and really unlock the, the benefits. One of the previous speakers spoke about how intra-African trade is just 17%. I live in Europe, and there it's over 60% intra-European trade. This brings resilience, this lowers cost, it means that we're exploiting the competitive advantage across the countries. High transport costs mean that you reduce your potential to exploit the competitive advantage of countries., and there's many African countries that have a competitive advantage in many goods, which they're unable to export because these high logistics costs. Current systems are extremely fragile. We often see the weaknesses of logistics systems revealed by regular shocks, be that a pandemic, a geopolitical crisis, inflationary pressures on energy, energy access, security, or climate events. Often these events have significant impacts on the most vulnerable. So this is really a call to close that logistics and freight transport policy gap, to bring in the investments. And as we said, this is a private-led system and those actors have an interest and a willingness to invest. So get the public policy right, to reduce the risks and create incentives, and the actors can bring in the investment themselves. The new UN Decade of Sustainable Transport, which just started this year, presents a great opportunity to address these issues and close this policy and investment gap. I'm working for the Kühner Foundation, and we support this transition to sustainable logistics through our expanding global work on logistics research, logistics education, humanitarian logistics, and logistics and climate action. We're grateful for this opportunity to contribute to the debate and improve the logistics systems of the future. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you very much for sharing examples and recommendations on how to unlock the full potential of freight and logistics systems to support sustainable industrialization. Thank you very much. Now I would like to introduce today's lead discussant, Mr. Sam van Kuchen, the founder and CEO of Golden. Mr. Van Kuchen is a social entrepreneur and has been actively collaborating with leading institutions such as the University College London, the Stanford Human-Centered AI Lab, and Microsoft on artificial intelligence to enhance human quality of life. So my question to you, Mr. Van Kuchen, building on this discussion: where do you see the greatest opportunities for technological and Innovation to overcome fragmentation and accelerate SDG 9 implementation. You have the floor.

Thank you very much, Madam, and esteemed panelists. As you all discussed, and hopefully as all of us in this room know, SDG 9 is the SDG that makes all of the SDGs achievable, and we would like to live in in a version of the world where problems that are solvable can actually be solved. And so as the ancient military adage goes, amateurs talk strategy, and as Mr. Major discussed, professionals discuss logistics. The question I will pose to all of you for what will hopefully be a very lively discussion today is what will you accomplish? And as you consider that, I would like to propose 3 themes for, for your additional consideration. The first is orienting around outcomes. Partnership begins with taking ownership of achieving specific outcomes and being open to areas of collaboration that are beyond your scope of excellence. How will you clear the critical path to accomplishing your objectives? How will you break down, and define activities that demonstrate progress? How will you capture structured data, what Mr. Denton just described as interoperable systems? You cannot participate in the current tidal wave of intelligent technology without a fundamentally sound understanding of your productivity, automation in capturing, and responsible practices for processing your data, and we need to know if you will be ready to commit to data by default today. Number 2, coexistence with AI. Pope Leo recently described humans and AI as two wings of the same dove. We have entered an era where there will be no human existence without artificial intelligence existence. And so, as we're speaking today, we just finished in Geneva, there was a discussion on AI policies and a lot of that discussion, I understand, was oriented around protections from AI. But AI is a leapfrog technology, just like electricity, satellites, and mobility. It has the potential to transform quality of life for the most vulnerable and the most isolated populations. And as an example of this, the Trump administration just, in a very visionary move, advanced the Peace Corps from being just deployment of volunteers around the world to being a Corps that they are calling the Technology Prosperity Corps. And the idea behind that is how volunteers can enable willing parties in member states around the world to understand AI fluency and how it can advance core objectives of your nation. I would encourage everyone to not resist AI or wait for the rules to be defined in order to engage, but instead to think how you can act now more appropriately and responsibly to unleash AI to iterate on your initiatives and amplify your results? Number 3, how will you consider volunteers as expansive resources? 2026 is the International Year of the Volunteer, and many of, of the entities represented here as member groups have been involved with that, including the United Nations Volunteer Groups Alliance, UNV, IAVE, and our organization, GOLDEN. And volunteers can be an abundant resource that puts eyes on the immediate needs of the populations you're serving and can come up with creative solutions that favor local populations the most. This is a resource that exists across all sectors, not just NGOs, not just governments or the private sector, but in fact any form of organization that can use distributed resources. And so my next question to everyone is, how many places can you welcome volunteers to address your work toward achieving all 17 SDGs? And how can you automatically capture their data and feedback to involve iterative cycles of improving your core programs toward achieving localized results for these goals? Thank you. I yield the floor.

Thank you very much, Mr. Van Kooken, for your valuable contribution Now I have the pleasure to pass the floor back to the President for the interactive segment.

Thank you, Madam President, for conducting the panel. We will now proceed to the interactive, and I hope fruitful discussion. Delegation wishing to intervene are invited to request the floor by pressing the microphone button. May I take this opportunity to remind participants that the time limit for intervention from the floor is 2 to 3 minutes. Please bear in mind that the time limit may need to be adjusted downwards depending on the number of the request for the floor. A countdown clock is visible on the screen to alert speakers when it is time to conclude their statements. In case speakers exceed their time limit, the microphone will be automatically deactivated. It's embarrassing, and I apologize in advance if speakers are cut off. These measures are being taken to ensure that all speakers can deliver their statements in the limited time available for the discussion. To ensure proper interpretation, speakers are asked to speak to speak at a normal pace and to provide a written copy of their statement by email to eStatement@un.org. I have more than 30 speakers. More than 40 speakers. I will begin by giving the floor to the representative of Morocco on behalf of the African Group. You have the floor, sir.

Mr. Chair, thank you. I have the honor to deliver these remarks on behalf of the African Group. The African Group welcomes the opportunity to reflect on SDG 9, a goal that lies at the heart of Africa's sustainable development aspirations. While important progress has been made globally, significant disparities remain. Many developing countries, particularly in Africa, continue to face structural constraints that limit industrialization, innovation, and infrastructure development. Financing gaps, limited access to technology, insufficient productive capacities, and persistent infrastructure deficits continue to slow progress and widen development gaps. For Africa, however, these challenges also present an opportunity to accelerate structural transformation. Guided by Agenda 2063 and fully aligned with the 2030 Agenda, the continent has identified inclusive and sustainable industrialization as a catalyst for economic diversification, resilience, and inclusive growth. In this regard, the Fourth Industrial Development Decade for Africa, IDA4, 2026-2035, provides a strategic framework to strengthen productive capacities, promote value addition and competitiveness, support innovation, expand regional value chains, and create decent employment. Particularly for women and young people. Industrial policies must therefore be accompanied by investments in infrastructure, clean energy, digital transformation, technology upgrading, and support for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. These are mutually reinforcing investments that generate progress not only on SDG 9, but also on water, energy, sustainable cities, Climate resilience and partnerships. Mr. Chair, industrialization is not an end in itself. It is the foundation for stronger economies, greater resilience, and sustainable development. By investing in productive capacities, innovation, and infrastructure, and by strengthening international cooperation, we can accelerate the implementation of SDG 9 while advancing the broader objective of the 2030 Agenda and the Agenda 2063. I thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Morocco for his statement. I now give the floor to the European Union. On behalf of the European Union and its member states, you have the floor.

Mr. Chair, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen, I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states. Partner countries need greater investment in quality and resilient infrastructure alongside stronger innovation ecosystems, research and development, better access to finance, stronger skills including digital literacy, and the integration of concepts such as the circular economy. This must be supported by knowledge sharing and capacity building to ensure local resilience and long-term sustainability. This approach also needs to be backed by private sector investment and buy-in from industries. However, hard infrastructure alone is not enough. It must be accompanied by an effective and sustainable enabling socio-economic environment. And by the soft measures that make systems effective and sustainable over time: sound governance, policy coherence, strong institutions, regulatory frameworks, digital solutions, and an enabling environment for quality investment, as well as a level playing field in international procurement practices. Mr. Chair, the European Union believes that achieving these goals requires international solidarity and multilateral cooperation. That is why we are committed to provide technical assistance that fosters political ownership while delivering meaningful results. This is what the EU and its member states do through Global Gateway. We forge mutually beneficial partnerships that mobilize public and private resources through sustainable, resilient, high-quality infrastructure investment. Global Gateway investments are implemented in a holistic 360-degree approach, building the enabling environment needed for local value creation and inclusive growth, from strong regulation and social protection to skills, good governance, and human rights. On connectivity and regional integration, Global Gateway supports strategic transport and economic corridors, helping to improve logistics, trade links, regional value chains, and access to markets. On energy access and resilience, we are supporting regional power infrastructure and renewable energy investments, including the Rusizi 3 regional hydropower project and the Zambia-Tanzania-Kenya interconnector. The EU and its member states will remain a reliable and a constructive partner in advancing inclusive, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure that leaves no one behind. Thank you.

Thank you, European Union. I now give the floor to Mexico, followed by Norway, Saudi Arabia, and India. You have the floor, Mexico.

Muchas gracias. Thank you very much, Chair. Mexico is convinced that to accelerate the implementation of SDG 9, we need international cooperation with new impetus that strengthens capacity and facilitates technology access to ensure that innovation reduces inequalities, generating decent jobs and promoting resilient and inclusive economies. Less than 5 years away from 2030, progress under SDG 9 remains unequal. There are gaps in infrastructure, financing, connectivity, and technological capacities that undermine opportunities to develop and participate fully in a productive transformation at the global level. In this context, we are promoting Plan México, which seeks to strengthen sustainable value chains including science, technology, and innovation, promote technical infrastructure, and enabling SMEs to engage in productive development. All of this is with a clear goal and a clear motto, which is that productivity needs to be environmentally compatible. All of this is to generate resilient productive systems under the Paris Agreement. There is not one model for development. We need to look at individual challenges that feed into public policies, and for that reason coordination between governments, academia, civil society, and the private sector is essential if we're to transform capacity This vision has been implemented across the country through a number of programs. We reaffirm that our—

Mexico, thank you. I now give the floor to

Mr. Chair, SDG 9 cannot be achieved through isolated measures. We need integrated policies that connect industrial development, innovation, infrastructure, climate action, and decent work. Predictable regulatory frameworks and access to capital are essential to mobilize private investments and support sustainable industrial transformation. The private sector plays a critical role in driving progress on the SDG Investments must be combined with skills development, technology adoption, and stronger participation by small and medium-sized enterprises. Rapid technological advances create opportunities for leapfrogging, but it also is widening the gap between and within countries. Digital public infrastructure is a foundational building block for industrial development. Norway is committed to contributing to lessening the digital gap through partnerships with countries, tech communities, private sector, and organizations through the Alliance for Digital Public Goods. We do this to make open source, scalable, interoperable digital solutions available to countries to lessen dependence on big tech and reduce costs. Partnerships between governments, businesses, and workers' organizations are equally important. Social dialogue helps ensure that technological change supports decent work, productivity, and resilience. In an increasingly fragmented global economy, stronger international cooperation, open markets, and rules-based trade remain critical for accelerating innovation, investments, and progress towards SDG 9 and the broader 2030 Agenda. Thank you.

Now, Saudi Arabia.

Mr. Chairman, Your Excellencies, Your Highnesses, thank you and we would like to thank you for this rich debate. The Kingdom stresses that pioneering and the sustainability of industrialization are based on investment in human capital and localizing knowledge as the basis engine for increasing productivity and competitiveness in order to face the international and increasing challenges. As such, the Kingdom provided pioneering, pioneering solutions through the Vision 2030 and through qualitative, qualitative adventures. So our universities are now among the highest-ranking universities in AI, and some of our universities are classified as among the best in the world. So this is all promoting pioneer inventions, and we have attained a very high ranking rate in one of the competitions. We— this is our, our effort to invest in human capital, and this has led us to achieve many advances, particularly in electronic governance, in which we are ranked 10 worldwide, and our competitiveness has been seen in areas in which we were lagging behind. We are going through governing— through working on sustainable development, and our government has adopted many voluntary reports, including sustainability in education, so that we can implement our achievements in a way that guarantees transparency and compliance, and so that we are ready for the 21st century. Thank you,

Saudi Arabia. I give the floor to India. Thank you,

Mr. President. SDG 9 is a powerful catalyst for the entire 2030 Agenda. Resilient infrastructure, sustainable industrialization, and innovation expand productive capacities, generate quality employment, and strengthen resilience across economies. India's experience illustrates this approach through programs such as Make in India, the Production Linked Incentives schemes, the National Infrastructure Pipeline, PM Gati Shakti, and digital public infrastructure. Strong links between scientific institutions, policymakers, and industry have helped translate research into practical development outcomes, underscoring the importance of the science-policy interface. Furthermore, India's development partnerships support partner countries in strengthening digital connectivity, transport infrastructure, capacity building, entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship and technology-enabled public services. We also call on developed countries to fulfill their commitments on finance, technology transfer, and capacity building. Mr. President, we should continue to promote integrated infrastructure planning, strengthen national innovation systems, expand affordable digital technologies, support MSMEs and local value addition, and foster practical partnerships that build productive capacities while respecting national ownership. I thank you. Thank you,

India. I now give the floor to Stakeholder No. 1, Group for Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent. You have the floor. Thank you,

Chair. I am speaking on behalf of the Stakeholder Group of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent Youth constituency, one of the constituencies within the major groups and other stakeholders. As we discuss SDG 9, I would— I wish to ask a simple question: who is benefiting from innovation, and who is still being left behind? SDG 9 calls for resilient infrastructure, inclusive industrialization, and innovation. But innovation is not only about technology; it is about who has access to its institutions, networks, resources, and opportunities that make it possible. For communities facing structural and systemic discrimination based on work and descent, including Dalit, Roma, Haritan, Ozu, Burakumin, Kolombola, and Palanquay communities, development too often comes at a cost. Infrastructure projects result in forced displacement, land grabbing, and inadequate compensation while affecting communities— while affected communities are excluded from decisions that shape their future. Futures. As a young person from such a community, I know exclusion extends into classrooms, workplaces, and professional networks. Discrimination, digital exclusion, and unequal access to finance, skills, and innovation ecosystems continue to deny millions of youth people decent work and opportunities to thrive. We call on member states and all other stakeholders to dismantle structural barriers, social hierarchies, discriminatory institutions, and exclusionary practices that perpetuate inequality. This means investing in affordable digital connectivity, equal access to digital technologies and AI, and dedicated financing, entrepreneurship, and jobs for excluded young people. Partnerships must build with and not merely for affected communities who hold generations of knowledge and solutions essential to sustainable development. I told you

it's embarrassing. I'm sorry and apologize. Due to the high number of inscriptions received, the list of speakers is now closed. No further inscriptions can be accommodated. I now give the floor to the representative of Ireland, who— to be followed by Indonesia, Algeria, and Côte d'Ivoire. Ireland, you have the floor. Thank you,

Chair. Ireland aligns itself with the statement of the European Union and has the following to add in a national capacity. Ireland notes the need of the— for accelerated and just transformative action to get the SDGs back on track, and how SDG 9 is key to this. Meaningful implementation of SG9 requires, as we have heard, the bridging of divides and boosting of inclusive sustainable investments in infrastructure innovation and digital transformation. As Ireland currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, we note in particular the Global Gateway, the Union's worldwide investment strategy for the mobilisation of public and private resources to bridge the global investment gaps—gaps across the digital, climate, energy, transport, health, education and research sectors—all contributing to sustainable development in partner countries. Through strategic investment and supportive enterprise policies, Ireland is providing practical assistance to make the green and digital transition while being competitive. Ireland's White Paper on Enterprise underpins the promotion of inclusive and sustainable industrialisation as a whole of government plan. Our vision is for Irish enterprises to succeed in delivering rewarding jobs by increasing their sustainability, innovation, and productivity. The paper embeds sustainable principles of business models and policies to boost productivity through investment in innovation, digitalisation, and management capacity. Enterprise 2035, our new plan in development, will be our long-term programme for sustainable enterprise growth and will build on these principles. People and human rights must be placed at the centre of all policies and youth must be recognised as equal partners. Meaningful youth participation in decision-making leads to more effective, equitable and sustainable outcomes for everyone. The wellbeing of our youth and the resilience of our communities is not a by-product of innovation but rather a fundamental pillar of it. Inclusivity and sustainability are critical for industry and innovation. Thank you. I thank you,

Ireland. Now Indonesia. Indonesia, you have the floor. Thank you, Mr.

President. Indonesia would like to I would like to emphasize 3 priorities. First, we must close infrastructure financing and capability gaps. Industrialization requires reliable infrastructure, affordable energy, efficient logistics, skilled workers, strong institutions, and access to long-term finance. However, limited fiscal space, high cost of capital, and weak project preparation continue to hinder investment. Development partners, multilateral development banks, and the private sector should therefore strengthen support and continue to mobilize affordable finance to risk investment and build bankable SDG 9 projects. Second, industrialization must support green, circular, and resilient transformation. Industrial policy and infrastructure investment should drive decarbonization, renewable energy, digital connectivity, technology upgrading, and SME participation in value chains. Third, we must strengthen international cooperation in advancing the implementation of SDG 9. Stronger cooperation is needed on technology transfer, innovation capacity, sustainable finance, resilient infrastructure, industrial partnership, skills development, and data system. This is particularly important for countries facing structural constraints, including LTCs, LLTCs, SIDS, and vulnerable middle-income countries. Indonesia ready to work with all partners to turn SDGs 9 from aspiration into implementation, from pilot project into scale, and from fragmented effort into collective action. I thank you. Thank you, Indonesia.

Now, Algeria, you have the floor, Madam. Thank you, Mr. Chair. For

Algeria, industrialization, innovation, and resilient infrastructure constitute key pillars of our national development strategy and our implementation of the 2030 Agenda. This is mainly translated by, first, nearly $216 billion mobilized under the National Public Investment Program between 2015 and 2024. Second, manufacturing sector contributing with 10% to GDP in 2024 compared to 6.9% in 2015. Third, a special focus on strategic industries, including agri-food, pharmaceuticals, electronics, and renewable energy equipment to enhance economic sovereignty and support the green transition. Algeria has also continued to enhance its innovation ecosystem through the establishment of the Ministry of the Knowledge Economy and Startups and the Algerian Startup Fund, an expanded network of public and private incubators, and stronger partnerships between universities and industry. Mr. Chair, Algeria remains firmly committed to pursuing an inclusive, resilient, and innovation-driven industrial transformation that advances sustainable development and ensures that no one is left behind. I thank you. Côte d'Ivoire, you have

the floor. Thank you, President. Côte

d'Ivoire aligns itself with the statements made by Morocco on behalf of the African Group, and we also welcome efforts made by the United Nations to strengthen resilient infrastructure ensure sustainable industrialization and innovation. These are key tools for economic transformation for developing countries. For Côte d'Ivoire, SDG 9 is key in the implementation of our structural transformation strategy. And indeed, under the leadership of His Excellency Mr. Alassane Ouattara, our president, my country is undertaking ambitious reform with robust growth, with 6.5% 5% on average over the last 5 years, with favorable macroeconomic indicators for investment. Our National Development Plan for 2026-2030 makes industrialization, infrastructure innovations key tenets of its action. With this in mind, Côte d'Ivoire is integrating— investing in infrastructure, energy, digital sphere, human capital in order to increase the competitiveness of our economy. We're aiming to develop local value chains and promote innovation. The recent adoption of our national artificial intelligence strategy illustrates this ambition. President, the most— the main issue at the moment is mobilizing necessary funding, uh, on a long— on a scale— on scale. Advisory groups have organized discussions on this to strengthen partnerships with financial institutions and the private sector as well as the UN system. Côte d'Ivoire calls for increased international cooperation to facilitate access to long-term financing, technology, and productive investment, particularly as part of the— Zalefkov— SDG, the African Free Trade Zone. SDG means accelerating simultaneously all of the SDGs. Thank you. Thank you, Côte d'Ivoire. I now

give the floor to Senegal, to be followed by Nepal, Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan, and Food and Agriculture Organization. You have the floor, Senegal. President, my delegation aligns

itself with a statement made by the Kingdom of Morocco on behalf of the African Group and would like to, in national capacity, make the following comments. President, for Senegal, SDG 9 is a pillar of structural transformation of our economy and an accelerator for all the SDGs. This ambition is at the heart of our national transformation agenda in Senegal for a period up to 2050 and our national development Strategy 2025-2029. Uh, countries continuing to invest in transport infrastructure, energy, and digital connectivity, and also in developing industrial zones and integrated economic hubs. These investments strengthen the competitiveness, foster job creation, and support agro-industrial transformation and improve people's access to basic services. As our national Voluntary National Review highlights, progress made in this field has a direct impact on reducing poverty, strengthening food security, and reducing inequalities within the country, and increasing resilience to climate change. Senegal also attaches great importance to innovation and digital transformation. These drive inclusive and sustainable growth. However, Accelerating SDG 9 requires greater concessional financing, technological transfer, and strong international partnerships to leave no one behind. Senegal, convinced as we are that sustainable industrialization is underpinned by resilient infrastructure and accessible innovation for all, all of this is crucial to achieve SDGs by 2030. 2030. Thank you very much. Now, Nepal, you have the floor. Thank

you, Mr. Chair. Nepal views SDG

9 as a key driver of structural transformation and sustainable graduation. We have expanded road connectivity, achieved near-universal access to electricity, accelerated digital connectivity, and integrated digital transformation into its national development agenda. While the industrial sector is still contributes below its potential. We have focused on sustainable industrialization, MSMEs development, digital innovation, green infrastructure, and value addition to transform the productive capacity and build a more resilient economy. Our National Innovation Center serves as a dynamic hub to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic partnership to advance SDG 9 goals. As an LDC and LLDC, we are grappling with high transport and logistic cost, limited industrial diversity inadequate investment in research and development, technology, finance, and capacity gaps. Climate-induced disasters have further increased the cost of building resilient infrastructure. Mr. Chair, let me highlight 3 priorities. First, scale-up investment in resilient, inclusive, and climate-resilient infrastructure. We have prioritized strengthening quality transport, energy, and digital infrastructure, particularly in rural and remote areas, through increased investment, public-private partnership, and affordable long-term financing. Financing. Second, accelerate sustainable industrialization by empowering MSMEs and promoting innovation. For this, we need to enhance access to finance, technology, skills, and markets for MSMEs, strengthen value addition and green manufacturing, and foster entrepreneurship through innovation hubs, research and development, and stronger academia-industry collaboration. Third, fostering an enabling ecosystem for digital transformation and private sector investment. We have focused on implementing business-friendly regulatory reforms, expanding digital connectivity, strengthening innovation and intellectual property system, and leveraging FDI digital technologies to boost competitiveness and inclusive economic growth. I thank you. Thank you, Nepal. Now, Azerbaijan, you

have the floor. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. Ladies

and gentlemen, Azerbaijan attaches high importance to SDG 9 as a key driver of economic diversification and sustainable growth. Under the Social Economic Development Strategy, my country has maintained stable economic performance. The private sector now accounts for nearly 90% of the economy, reflecting continuous structural transformation. Digital transformation is another important pillar of SDG 9 implementation. Broadband coverage has reached around 95% nationwide, enabling wider access to digital services and supporting business development. At the same time, investments in e-government systems and digital infrastructure are improving efficiency and transparency in public services. In this context, important steps are also being taken towards the development of a national artificial intelligence strategy, with ongoing work aimed at defining priority areas and building comprehensive framework for application of AI on data-driven governance, innovation ecosystem, and development of digital skills. At the same time, we recognize that globally SDG 9 progress remains uneven. Access to finance is still a major constraint, especially for small and medium enterprises, and many countries face challenges in upgrading industrial capacity and in adopting new technologies. Azerbaijan experience shows that SDG 9 progress depends on 3 key elements: strong industrial base, digital transformation, and effective investment in innovation and infrastructure. We remain committed to continuing reforms, expanding industrial capacity, and strengthening innovation-led growth in line with SDGs. I thank you. Thank you, Azerbaijan. Now, Food and Agriculture

Organization, you have the floor. Thank you, Mr. President. The strengthening of agro-industrial

value chains, local manufacturing and service ecosystems, especially those driven by micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and of innovation capacities that create value added and decent jobs, particularly for women and youth, are key to inclusive and sustainable industrialization in rural areas. It is also essential to incorporate integrated technology solutions into broader national strategies for industrial development, innovation, and skills enhancement. However, their uptake will depend on enabling environment that bridges a divide between technical feasibility and scalable implementation. This demands increased access to rural connectivity, reliable data, digital public infrastructure, digital advisory service, and skills coupled with strong institutions and governance and innovative financial mechanisms that reach, among others, smallholders, women, and youth. Partnerships are also fundamental. Governments, farmers, academia, private sector, and financial institutions have a singular yet complementary role to play in this regard. At FAO, we endeavor to bring all of these elements and stakeholders together, providing the robust data and a portfolio of solutions required to access the finance, and identify key partners to deliver impact at scale. We also offer a neutral space for dialogue in, among other events, such as the recent FAO Global Conference on Smart Farming: Leveraging Data and Technology for Sustainable Agrifood Systems, where we discuss these issues, which are crucial not only to transform to more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems, but also to accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals., including Sustainable Development Goal 9. Thank you. Thank you. Now, the second stakeholder on education and academia,

second group of stakeholder, you have the floor. Excellencies, delegates, I am Falit Sijaria speaking for the education

and academia stakeholder group. As the AI for Good Summit takes place in Geneva and the AI Impact Summit took place in India earlier this year, we stand at the cusp of a generational pivot under SDG 9. Let me be unequivocal. We do not stand in the way of innovation. We must actively leverage AI to radically democratize access to education, to break down barriers, close resource deficits, and build fast-paced development pathways for everyone everywhere. But right now, the technology growth is based on unjust foundations, and we must address this is divide on 4 fronts. First is the hoarding of frontier models and research. We are witnessing a dangerous trend where countries and corporations are actively restricting access to frontier models and cutting-edge research. The physical infrastructure powering this AI revolution, the servers, the silicon, the energy grids, is built on rare earth minerals and critical raw materials extracted from the Global South. Furthermore, these models are trained on the collective data, culture, and knowledge of the entire world. We are mining the Global South for its physical resources and digital data, only to lock the final product behind a geographic paywall. We need more open source partnerships like the propagation of DPI by India. Second, the academic chasm. We should— why should a student at an elite, well-funded university in the global north have access to the world's best models while a student studying at a local university in the global south left with nothing? If academia is cut off from frontier tools, it falls hopelessly behind the industry. Without equitable access, we are preemptively locking the next generation out of global job market and the innovation economy. Third is the concentration of global capital. Innovation requires investment and investment demands stability. But as geopolitical crises multiply, we are witnessing a massive flight of capital towards the Global North. And fourth is the innovation which is being decoupled with ethics. We cannot ignore collateral damage of this mad rush. We are trampling on personality rights and violating the copyrights of originally— original creators. Thank you. I thank you. Now, the representative of France, to be followed by

the State of Palestine, South Africa, Sudan, and Zimbabwe. France, you have the floor. President, ladies and gentlemen, waste management is a key part of production

drivers of the 2030 Agenda. It depends on them. It is the foundation of sustainable economic activity, which is all far too often smothered— poorly managed waste. In many areas around the world, it is an environmental burden. Solutions adapted to the local context mean that we can minimize this impact, but at a high cost for society. Even when the resources from this waste are used, we call for global mobilization for the implementation of three key actions. Urgently make progress towards achieving the targets of SDG 9 to provide the necessary infrastructure— the road networks, energy networks, communication, water supply, and sanitation. This infrastructure underpins the development of a green, management of waste everywhere and for all. Secondly, make progress, and urgently so, to reduce the impact of poorly managed waste, creating infrastructure to collect them and dispose of them. These are the first crucial steps to then allow these— this waste to be managed correctly. Thirdly, plan for a future already where this— the amount of waste created will be progressively reduced thanks to a transformation of our models of consumption and production guided by the SDGs. The speaker's microphone has been cut off. Thank you, France. I now give the floor

to the State of Palestine. Thank you, Mr. President. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, two Palestinian sisters

in Gaza, 17-year-old Farah and 15-year-old Tala, have won the world's largest environmental competition for turning destruction into innovation. They were recognized with the 2026 Earth Prize for transforming the rubble of their bombed home into reusable bricks for reconstruction. Like millions of Palestinians in Gaza, Farah and Tala were forcibly displaced displaced by the Israeli aggression that indiscriminately bombed their homes, hospitals, schools, universities, UN facilities, roads, water systems, energy networks, and other critical infrastructure. More than 370,000 homes have been destroyed. The majority of hospitals are non-operational, and nearly every school has been bombed. UNDP and UNEP have warned that the Israeli destruction has inflicted one of the most severe urban environmental crises in modern history, unleashing more than 60 million tons of rubble and debris, equivalent in volume to 15 Great Pyramids of Giza or 25 Eiffel Towers. Yet amid the destruction, Palestine's greatest resource remains its people, who remain steadfast in rebuilding stronger, fostering innovation, and developing resilient infrastructure. Because Farah and Tala remind us that SDG 9 can and will emerge from from devastation, and that innovation can turn challenges into solutions and help rebuild sustainably. Because rebuilding is not only about restoring what was destroyed; it is about creating a stronger future. Brick by brick, stone by stone, the Palestinian people will continue to rebuild and create a future in the only homeland they have ever known. I thank you, Mr. President. I now give the floor to South Africa. You have the floor. Thank you, Mr. President. South Africa

aligns itself with the African Group statement. South

Africa believes that Sustainable Development Goal 9 is a critical driver of socio-economic transformation and human development. South Africa has made notable strides in sustainable industrialization, digitalization, decarbonization, expanded mobile network coverage, emission reduction, and renewable energy investment. These efforts contribute not only to economic growth but also to the achievement of related goals on climate action, affordable energy, decent work, and resilience. However, progress remains uneven. Challenges such as disparities in industrial development, declining manufacturing performance, energy insecurity, and reduced investment in research and development continue to constrain growth, innovation, and infrastructure development. Through its national policy frameworks, South Africa continues to advance inclusive economic growth and sustainable development. Our industrial policy supports diversification, decarbonization, and digital— digitalization while fostering new industries. Sustainable development requires collective action. To drive and deliver on meaningful and impactful School, Economic Development, the Government of South Africa works closely with its development finance institutions, business, labor, civil society, and international development partners to advance our national development objectives. To conclude, Mr. President, South Africa strongly believes that we must continue to create enabling conditions for industrialization, innovation, and infrastructure development that improve people's lives and ensures that no one is left behind in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. I thank you. Thank you, South Africa. Now, Sudan, you have the floor. Thank you, President, Excellencies, ladies

and gentlemen. SDG 9 supports industry, industrialization,

structural transformation, transformation and fighting poverty. But progress towards the SDGs remains unequal. In transport, infrastructure, energy, and connectivity are not seeing progress, and this is particularly impactful for developing countries. We reaffirm the importance of accelerating the implementation of the SDGs by industrial policies that strengthen and increase climate ambition. And also support SMEs and long-term growth via cooperation with the private sector and regional cooperation focusing on women, young people, and vulnerable groups. Aggression against Sudan has had a deleterious impact on our economy, and we are looking forward to rebuilding. The Ministry for the Economy is strengthening the— is work to support industry and rebuilding infrastructure in certain areas and strengthening small-scale industry too. And we are investing in different sectors for this. We have also launched a 5-year program on industrialization, including agro-food industry, and the green economy and pharmaceuticals. To conclude, we'd urge this forum to strengthen— support economic recovery in conflict-affected countries and reiterate our commitment to strengthen our resilient economic foundations, and we support for economic— recall for economic recovery for vulnerable countries. This is an important effort to ensure that we can leave no one behind. Behind. Thank you. I now give the floor to the representative of Zimbabwe, followed by United Arab Emirates, United Nations

Environment Program, Canada, and China. Zimbabwe, you have the floor. Thank you, Chair. Zimbabwe welcomes this important discussion of DG9 and its interlinkages with other SDGs.

Resilient infrastructure, sustainable industrialization, and innovation are critical enablers of inclusive growth and sustainable development. Progress on SDG9 accelerates progress across the 2030 Agenda by creating jobs, reducing poverty, strengthening resilience, and expanding opportunities for all. Through its economic blueprints, NDS1 and NDS2, Zimbabwe has adopted an integrated approach that recognizes infrastructure development, industrialization, and innovation as foundations for long-term transformation. More than 50,000 kilometers of roads have been constructed, rehabilitated, or maintained, thereby improving connectivity and expanding access to markets. Investments in the modernization of border posts, power generation, and strategic water infrastructure of facilitating trade, strengthening energy security, supporting irrigation, and enhancing resilience to climate change. Chair, Zimbabwe is also promoting the value addition and beneficiation of agricultural and mineral resources to create higher value industries and quality employment. We are also investing in digital transformation through the expansion of broadband connectivity, e-government services, digital financial inclusion, innovation hubs, and space special economic zones. Today, mobile and internet penetration exceeds 90%, creating new opportunities for entrepreneurship, education, and improved public service delivery. Public-private partnerships remain critical for mobilizing investment in infrastructure and industrial development. Zimbabwe continues to leverage partnerships with development partners, financial institutions, academia, research institutions, and the private sector to accelerate industrial modernization and technological innovation. In conclusion, Chair, Zimbabwe remains committed to fostering resilient infrastructure, sustainable industrialization, and innovation as catalysts for achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Thank you, Zimbabwe. Now, United Arab Emirates, you have the floor. Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Chair. The United Arab Emirates

recognizes SDG 9 as a critical enabler of sustainable development.

In the UAE, we are building a globally competitive, technology-driven, and sustainable industrial ecosystem that strengthens long-term national resilience. Through our National Strategy of Industry and Advanced Technology, we aim to more than double the manufacturing's contribution to GDP by 2031. Industrial GDP has already grown by more than 60% since 2021, strengthening local supply chains and creating opportunities for businesses and communities alike. Our commitment is also reflected through Make It in the Emirates, our flagship industrial platform, which this year identified 180 billion dirhams worth of offtake opportunities across more than 5,000 products over the next decade. Equally important, SDG 9 is a powerful driver of SDG 17. The UAE has concluded 37 comprehensive economic partnership agreements, expanding market access, reducing trade barriers, and strengthening international industrial cooperation. Looking ahead, we believe 3 priorities are essential to accelerating progress on SDG 9. First, Strengthen public-private partnerships that move beyond dialogue into implementation. Second, invest in resilient manufacturing capabilities in strategic sectors. Third, deepen international cooperation to ensure that industrial transformation, technology, and innovation remain accessible and inclusive, particularly for developing countries. The UAE remains committed to working with member states and partners to build resilient industry accelerate innovation and advance the 2030 Agenda. Thank you. Arab Emirates. Now the United Nations Environment Programme. You have the floor. Excellencies, infrastructure, industrialization,

and innovation are central to sustainable development. Since 2015, progress has

been made with manufacturing value added per capita rising by over 17%. Construction, meaning delivering essential infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, housing, and roads, now accounts for 11 to 13% of global GDP, creating jobs and enhancing social inclusion. Yet infrastructure and industry carry environmental costs. Buildings and construction drive 37% of energy-related CO2 emissions, Material extraction drives over half of greenhouse gas emissions and 40% of particulate matter health impacts. This is also an opportunity. With 75% of 2050's infrastructure needs yet to be built, today's choices matter. Climate resilient infrastructure could save trillions in avoided damages. Circular strategies can cut emissions by 20 to— by 10 to 50% in new buildings and by half in existing ones. Innovation in design, waste management, and transport can cut pollution and create green jobs. As we heard this afternoon in the statement of the 10YP board, there are critical issues that need to be addressed, including how sustainable production and circular economy can drive progress on climate, biodiversity, and pollution and waste. Investing in circularity, including in infrastructure, and harmonizing sustainability disclosures are also critical for catalyzing innovation, jobs, and supply chain resilience. In conclusion, allow me to highlight 4 quick recommendations. Number 1, investing in infrastructure, infrastructure that is sustainable, climate resilient, and resource efficient. Number 2, incentivizing industries to design products for longer life, repair, reuse, and recycling. Number 3, leveraging sustainable public procurement to drive demand for low-carbon, resource-efficient circular solutions. And number 4, integrating the international good practice principles for sustainable infrastructure into national policy. Overall— Thank you, UNEP. Now, representative of Canada, you have the floor. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Microphone for Canada. Okay, thank you, Mr. Chair. Canada

has learned that advancing SDG 9 requires more than good ideas.

They must reach markets, communities, and industries. Where they can deliver results. Unless innovation is adopted and scaled, emissions will not fall at the pace required. That is why Canada supports innovators beyond the laboratory, helping small and medium-sized enterprises bring promising solutions from research to market. At the same time, Canada is investing in climate-resilient infrastructure such as energy-efficient buildings, and natural infrastructure. To share a civil society perspective, I will turn it over to Kathy Valentino, the President of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities. Thank you. If we want to accelerate the progress on SDG 9, we must recognize that delivery happens locally. In Canada, municipal governments own and

maintain 60% of the public infrastructure—roads, bridges, water systems, and community assets—that that connect people and markets. Across Manitoba, Canada, communities are facing growing infrastructure pressures while also responding to climate impacts, supply chain disruption, and increasing service demands. Investing in infrastructure is about strengthening economic resilience, enabling investment, improving disaster preparedness, and ensuring rural and northern communities like the Port of Churchill can participate in the economy of the future. When municipalities succeed, progress accelerates across the SDGs. Municipal voices matter and local community perspectives matter. Thank you to Canada for this opportunity, for your attention, and for hearing the municipal voice. Canada, thank you. Now I give the floor to the representative of China. President, industry innovation infrastructure are key drivers of

sustainable development. As current SDG implementation is seriously

off track, it is all the more important to leverage the leading role of science, technology, and innovation, STI, to promote inclusive, sustainable socioeconomic development across all countries and thus advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. First, we need to create new quality productive forces based on local conditions. We encourage countries to optimize and upgrade traditional sectors based on their realities, expand smart manufacturing, and support enterprises in offering higher-quality products with distinctive features. We need to foster emerging sectors and differentiation for the future, encourage industrial innovation, and expand application scenarios. Second, we need to step up coordinated infrastructure Planning to build modern infrastructure, develop integrated state-of-the-art transport systems, accelerate the buildup of new energy infrastructure to boost green and low-carbon energy consumption, and build infrastructures for disaster prevention mitigation, ICT and computing. Third, we need to create new formats of smart economy, expand the AI+ initiative, accelerate the adoption of smart devices and systems, promote large-scale commercial application of AI in key sectors, support the creation of open-source AI communities, and foster a thriving open-source ecosystem. President Xi Jinping— China pursues people-centered development and continues to optimize its industry mix, with remarkable progress achieved in STI. In 2025, high-tech manufacturing and equipment manufacturing grew in terms of added value by 9.4% and 9.2%, respectively, and the ratio of R&D expenditure to GDP stood at 2.8%, thus further aligning SDI with industrial innovation. China's 15th Five-Year National Economic and Social Development Plan maps out a new blueprint for growth and better lives. Thank you, China. I now give the floor to Philippine, to be followed by Thailand, Liberia, and Armenia. Philippine, you have the floor. Thank you, Mr. President. SDG 9 is a key driver of sustainable development. Resilient infrastructure, inclusive

industrialization, and innovation

strengthens productivity, creates decent work, supports climate action, and accelerates progress across the SDGs. The Philippines The Philippines continues to pursue an integrated approach to infrastructure, industrial development, and innovation. Guided by the Philippine Development Plan of 2023 to 2028 and the National Innovation Agenda and Strategy Document 2023 to 2032, we're investing in transport, digital energy, and logistic infrastructure while strengthening research, technology, and innovation ecosystems. These efforts are delivering results. In 2025, the Philippines ranked 50 out of the 139 economies in the Global Innovation Index, improving from 59th in 2022, and was recognized as one of the decade's top innovation performers relative to its level of development. Together with our recent attainment of upper middle-income country status, these milestones reflect our commitment to innovation-led inclusive and sustainable growth. We're also advancing responsible artificial intelligence through our National AI Strategy Roadmap and strengthening industrial competitiveness through the Tatag Pinoy Act, which promotes innovation, supports high-value industries, and helps Philippine enterprises move up regionally and globally. Mr. President, no country can achieve sustainable transformation alone. We therefore call for stronger international cooperation to mobilize investment, facilitate technology transfer, and strengthen research partnership to participate in the digital and green economy. The Philippines remains committed to working with all partners to build resilient infrastructure and harness science, technology, and innovation to improve lives and leave no one behind. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Philippine. Now I give the floor to the representative of Thailand. You have the floor. Thank you very much, Mr. Vice President. Thailand thanks

the panelists for their valuable selections. In the interest of time, I will post my full intervention

online. SDG 9 is indeed the production engine of the 2030 Agenda that creates jobs, expands market access, and drives climate action, advancing multiple SDGs at the same time. Yet global progress remains mixed. For Thailand, transformation begins with rethinking how industry grows. Our Bio-Circular Green Economy Model, or BCGEM, BCG promotes industrial development that creates higher value, uses resources more efficiently, and reduces environmental impacts. Among many initiatives, the government has supported SMEs, the backbone of our economy and industry, in translating the BCG model into practice through green certification and labeling systems. Thailand is also moving towards cleaner production through a green industry approach. Our Green Industry Certification has so far certified around 600 factories, contributing to approximately 2 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions reductions. Green industrial transition also requires strong partnerships and innovation. The Saraburi Sandbox, Thailand's first low-carbon city model, brings together communities, local authorities, and the private, private sector through a public-private-people partnership. To decarbonize one of the country's most carbon-intensive industrial areas, including the cement industry, through low-carbon solutions. Mr. Vice President, regional and sub-regional cooperation like ASEAN, ACMECS, BIMSTEC can bring pragmatic cooperation on SDG 9. In the same spirit, as host of the 2026 IMF World Bank Group Annual Meetings in Bangkok this October, we aim to advance trusted and interoperable digital public infrastructure infrastructure cooperation through the safe and inclusive digital finance framework. Thank you very much. Thank you, Thailand. I now give the floor to Liberia. Mr. Chair, it is both an honor and privilege to address this distinguished gathering on Liberia's progress toward

achieving SDG 9. Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 9 is fundamental to accelerating progress —across the entire 2030 Agenda. Resilient infrastructure, sustainable industrialization,

and innovation are not standalone objectives. They are powerful enablers of poverty reduction, decent work, food security, quality education, improved health systems, climate resilience, and reduced inequality. For Liberia, investing in roads, energy, digital connectivity, ports, and sustainable infrastructure is essential to creating jobs, expanding market access, supporting agriculture, strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises, and improving access to social services. Through these investments, we are creating greater linkages between SDG 9 and SDGs 1, 2, 4, 8, 10, and 13. As Liberia advances the implementation of its ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, AID, we remain committed to building a resilient economy driven by productive industries, innovation, human capital development, and sustainable infrastructure. As we present our Voluntary National Review, we reaffirm this— our commitment and highlight our determination to leave no one behind. Let us work together to transform infrastructure into opportunity, innovation into inclusion, and industrialization into sustainable prosperity for all. Thank you. Thank you, Liberia. Now I give the floor to the representative of Armenia, who will be followed by Poland and Brazil. Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Progress on SDG 9 can generate strong

multiplier effect across the 2030 Agenda. Reliable infrastructure, inclusive industrial development, and accessible

innovation help countries create jobs, raise productivity, advance energy transitions, and strengthen resilience, and move forward higher value-added economic activities. For this reason, SDG 9 shouldn't be treated as a narrow sectoral goal, but as an enabler for sustainable development. For Armenia, this discussion is particularly relevant. As a landlocked and middle-income country, we know firsthand how infrastructure gaps and limited connectivity, high transport and transit costs, and unequal access to finance and technology can significantly constrain sustainable development. These challenges affect not only trade and investment, but also the ability of countries to build productive capacities and move towards higher value-added economy. Accelerating SDG 9 therefore requires an integrated approach. Investment in transport, energy, and digital Physical infrastructure must be linked with industrial policy, innovation systems, skills development, trade facilitation, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises. Physical infrastructure is essential, but it must be complemented by efficient logistics, modern customs systems, paperless trade, digital platforms, and predictable regulatory environments. At the same time, the global context is challenging. The reconfiguration of supply chains, the growth of artificial Intelligence and the green transition and rising demand on critical minerals create new opportunities for technology upgrading and sustainable development and industrialization, but without adequate support, these same transformations risk widening existing gap between countries. As we review as the G9, our collective effort should be focused on practical support that is tailored to national circumstances and helps countries translate infrastructure, industry, and innovation into lasting development. Again, I thank you. Thank you, Armenia. I give the floor to Poland. You have the floor. Dear Excellencies, distinguished delegates, Poland aligns with the statement delivered by the EU. I would like to share some

additional remarks. SDG 9 is often discussed in a high-level concept

and long-term frameworks, but at its core, it's about something very concrete. Whether people can get to work safely and affordably, whether a small company can connect to markets, and whether a rural community is digitally connected or left behind. Infrastructure is not neutral. When it works, it creates opportunity. When it's missing or outdated, it quietly deepens inequality. That is why investment in resilient and sustainable infrastructure is one of the most practical forms of economic policy we can pursue to obtain SDG 9. The stability of the electricity system is a cornerstone of industry and innovation. That is why Poland supports equal treatment of all low and zero emission technologies, including nuclear, renewables, and hydrogen. The digital transport and innovation gaps are not only development challenges, they are issues of cohesion and stability. Ladies and gentlemen, SDG 9 is about fairness in opportunity. It is about making sure that geography does not determine destiny. That is why Poland expressed its readiness to strengthen international cooperation. The security of infrastructure and supply chains requires closer coordination and technology transfer. The pursuit of sustainable future for all must combine climate protection with economic solidarity, ensuring that no region or sector is left behind. I thank you. Thank you, Poland. Now the floor is for Brazil. You have the floor. Thank you, Mr. President. SDG 9 calls on us to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive sustainable industrialization, and

foster innovation. For Brazil, these three dimensions are closely

interconnected and essential to sustainable development. As a large developing country with continental dimensions, Brazil continues to address infrastructure gaps while strengthening productive capacity and regional integration. Recent investments on railways, waterways, roads, and aviation have expanded connectivity across the national territory, including remote regions, and contributed to reducing regional disparities. Infrastructure remains a fundamental enabler of economic opportunity and social inclusion. Brazil is also advancing a development model that combines industrialization with decarbonization. The implementation of a national emissions trading system and establishment of a legal framework for low carbon hydrogen are creating conditions for sustainable industrial growth, while opening new opportunities for investment, innovation, and job creation. On innovation, Brazil is investing in tools that connect scientific knowledge to public policy and local development. Digital solutions for SDG monitoring, innovation-oriented public procurement, and the digital transformation of public services are helping accelerate the adoption of new technologies and improve public sector effectiveness. Mr. President, progress on SDG 9 cannot be separate from SDG 17. Developing countries require access to adequate and affordable financing to bridge infrastructure gaps, advance sustainable industrialization, and ensure just transition. Commitments on developing financing must be translated into concrete support and effective disbursements. Brazil remains committed to international cooperation and to sharing the experience infrastructure integration, renewable— I now give the floor to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. You have the floor. Thank you, Mr. President. As we reflect on progress towards the SDGs, one message is clear. Resilient infrastructure,

a core component of Goal 9, provides the foundation upon which sustainable development can grow

and endure. As hazards increase in frequency, intensity, and complexity, damage to transport systems, energy networks, water infrastructure, telecommunications, and digital platforms can trigger cascading disruptions across economies and societies. Investing in resilient infrastructure goes beyond protecting physical assets. It's about ensuring the continuity of essential services, safeguarding economic stability, and reducing disaster losses. Resilience must be integrated across the entire infrastructure lifecycle, from planning and design to financing, construction, operation, and maintenance. At the same time, initiatives such as the Early Warnings for All initiative demonstrate the importance of connecting risk— knowledge, monitoring systems, and timely action to protect communities and critical infrastructure. To accelerate progress on SDG 9, we must first prioritize investment in resilient infrastructure that can withstand climate, disaster, and technological risks while maintaining critical services and reducing cascading impacts. Second, strengthen risk-informed planning and governance ensuring that disaster risk reduction is embedded in infrastructure policies, standards, and financing. And third, leverage innovative digital technologies and artificial intelligence to enhance risk assessment, infrastructure resilience, early warning, and evidence-based decision-making. I thank you. I thank you. Now I give the floor to the Workers and Trade Union Major Group, followed by Eswatini, Switzerland, and the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries. Workers and Trade Union Major Group, you have the floor. Thank you, Chair. I speak I speak on behalf of the International Trade Union Confederation representing 200 million workers in 169 countries worldwide. Today's discussions have touched upon synergies between

SDG 9 and other goals, making clear that SDG 9 cannot be achieved without achieving SDG 8 on decent work. Current data shows that industrial growth does not go hand in hand with jobs growth. Manufacturing companies are producing more while hiring fewer workers. That is not the inclusive approach SDG 9 has promised. Success cannot be measured in output while workers are left behind. As digitalization and AI reshape the workplace, we must ensure that jobs in the digital economy are decent jobs. The good news is that at the International Labour Conference this year in Geneva, an ILO Convention on decent work in the platform economy was ratified. We seek ratification of this convention worldwide and this should be translated into real change for workers. Our call is clear. Labor rights must sit at the center of industrialization, not as an afterthought but as a foundational pillar. That means workers must be at the table through their trade unions shaping the direction in which industrialization transformation is heading through genuine social dialogue. It means guaranteeing decent work, living wages, equal pay for work of equal value, investing in gender-responsive skills, lifelong learning, and supporting the formalization of the informal economy. Technology must serve as an enabler of human capital, not a mechanism for worker replacement. Chair, without workers at the table, we will not be able to achieve the goals of SDG 9. Thank you. Thank you. I now give the floor to Eswatini. Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. As a small, landlocked, lower-middle-income country, infrastructure, industrialization, and technology are

central to Eswatini's competitiveness, and we accordingly put a lot of effort towards SDG 9. Between 2020 and 2025, our gazetted paved road network expanded by almost 20%, reaching over 1,800 kilometers, supported by strategic investments along vital corridors achieved with the support of some of our development

partners. We are also beginning to see positive progress in air transport. Air passenger traffic at the King Mswati III International Airport has bounced back, reaching 114,000 passengers in 2025 following the shock experienced after the COVID-19 pandemic. We are also making air traffic within the Southern Africa— we are also making air travel within the Southern Africa region easier. The national airline is now operating direct flights from Eswatini to major cities of the region, including Harare, Lusaka, Durban, Cape Town, and Johannesburg, further contributing to regional integration in air transport. Manufacturing value added reached 20.2% of GDP in 2025, its highest level in the last 5 years, and the national network coverage now stands at 95%. Placing the country high among its peers in terms of telecommunication reach. Mr. President, despite these gains, challenges still remain, including the ever-declining official development assistance for infrastructure. We call upon multilateral and bilateral partners to reverse this decline in infrastructure financing. I thank you. Eswatini, thank you. I now give the floor to Switzerland. Monsieur le Président, Excellences, j'ai l'honneur— Ladies and gentlemen, President, it's an honor to present on behalf of Switzerland on SDG 9. Swiss research and innovation

actors are a key part of sustainable development. Academic excellence and innovative potential in Switzerland

lead to positive outcomes of a significant nature. Through, uh, knowledge sharing on an open science basis, Switzerland helps to, uh, broaden the global, uh, evidence basis and, uh, promotes, uh, equal opportunities in Switzerland and abroad. Sustainable, uh, infrastructures and innovation enable, uh, Switzerland's economic prosperity. The main challenge we face consists in breaking the link between economic growth and, uh, consumption at source. Growth must not be achieved to the detriment of, uh, humans or nature. In that same spirit, Switzerland, uh, promotes, uh, applied research programs for sustainable development and, uh, poverty reduction projects and equal partnerships help to transform systems in partner countries and within Switzerland. Thank you. Thank you, Switzerland. And now the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries followed by Botswana, Suriname, and Lebanon. Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries, you have the floor. Thank you, Chair. I have the honor to deliver the statement

on behalf of the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries, CPOPC. We welcome this review of SDG 9. Industry, innovation, and infrastructure drive productivity, decent jobs, resilient

value chains, and the energy transition. However, progress remains uneven. Manufacturing value added per capita increased by 18.1% between 2015 and 2024, while the manufacturing employment declined 14.3% to 13.7%. Only 32.7% of SMEs have credit— access to credit. In 2025, 5G covered 84% of people in high-income countries but only 4% in low-income countries. These gaps These gaps constrain agro-industrial value chains. In Indonesia, palm oil contributed $20.12 billion or 65.9% of plantation export value in 2024, while supporting around 13.4 million jobs. In Malaysia, palm oil export earnings reached $27 billion in 2025, including $4.75 billion from oleochemicals, $455 million USD from biodiesel, and $1.2 billion USD from finished products. In Honduras, oil palm covered around 235,000 hectares and produced around 500,000 tonnes in 2024, with smallholders playing a dominant role. We therefore call on 3 priorities. First, sustainable industrial upgrading through downstream processing, cleaner production, resource efficiency, and circular use of residues. Second, inclusive industrialization. And third, technology adoption. As a practical next step, we propose an agro-industrial upgrading delivery track under SDG 9 to connect producer countries and all of its partners, ensuring that we measure results in productivity and jobs. Thank you. I thank you. I now give the floor to Botswana. You have the floor. Thank you, Mr. President. As a land-linked country, Botswana affirms that SDG 9 is central to its national and regional structural integrated transformation agenda as accounted

for at the policy level through the implementation of the National

Development Plan 12 and the Botswana Economic Transformation Program. These policy instruments happen to run through 2030. This is an open acknowledgement that resilient infrastructure, sustainable industrialization, innovation, and digitalization are foundational to collaborative development pathways. These are not peripheral priorities. At the universal level, it is recognized that innovation and digital transformation must drive the next phase of growth and be supported by skills development, research and development, quality infrastructure, and technology adoption. Botswana is consciously investing in transport network expansion and integration, energy and water and sanitation development, digital connectivity, and industrial facilities. These are imperative. These priority investments in regional connectivity through logistical corridors, cross-border infrastructure, and trade facilitation are aimed at supporting both the underserved rural communities and to foster sustainable economic transformation. Mr. President, accelerating SDG 9 requires commitment to delivery, strengthened international cooperation, private sector investment, technology transfer, and capacity building at affordable development and finance levels. On that note, I thank you very much. Thank you, Botswana. I now give the floor to Suriname. Thank you, Mr. President. Suriname stands at a pivotal moment in its development. The final investment decision for the first offshore oil project concluded in October 2024, presents significant

opportunities for economic transformation. Our priority is to ensure that

the projected economic growth translates into resilient infrastructure, innovation, and inclusive prosperity that benefits all Surinamese. Our second FNR and our recently submitted third NDC recognized that data gaps, particularly under SDG 9, continue to limit effective monitoring and evidence-based planning. Strengthening our statistical and geospatial capacities therefore remains a national priority. Guided by the structural vision Suriname and our Green Development Strategy, we are aligning infrastructure development with climate resilience and sustainable spatial planning. Investments are improving national connectivity through strategic transport corridors, expanding port infrastructure, and strengthening access to the interior. Innovation is equally central to this transformation. Through several programs and the development of a geospatial intelligence hub, we are supporting entrepreneurship, expanding access to technology and finance, and strengthening evidence-based decision-making. The implementation of our NDC is estimated to require approximately $4.5 billion by 2035. We therefore look forward to continued international cooperation through climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity building, enabling Suriname to build resilient, low-carbon infrastructure that advances sustainable development for present and future generations. I thank you. Thank you, Suriname. Now Lebanon, you have the floor, Madame. Mr. President, a competitive, resilient, and sustainable industrial sector is fundamental to inclusive economic growth. It's in job creation and long-term development. For Lebanon, revitalizing

industry means supporting productive sectors, strengthening

value chains, fostering innovation, enabling enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, to compete in increasing digital and global economy. Resilient infrastructure and innovation are essential to Lebanon's recovery. The government is advancing reforms to modernize infrastructure, promote digital transformation, and strengthen productive sectors while supporting small and medium-sized enterprises. National institutions, including the Lebanese National Council for scientific research, continue to contribute through satellite technologies, AI, and geospatial analysis that support evidence-based planning and policymaking. Moreover, the Lebanese Ministry for Technology and AI is leading a national digital agenda focused on strengthening digital governance, developing secure public infrastructure, promoting ethical and responsible AI. These efforts aim to position technology and science as an engine for economic recovery. However, the recent war in Lebanon has caused extensive damage to roads, public infrastructure, productive facilities, and local economies, significantly setting back progress towards SDG 9. The latest joint UNDP-CNRS report related to damage assessment documented more than 11,000 destroyed buildings and damage exceeding $1.38 billion in south of Lebanon alone. For Lebanon, reconstruction must not simply replace damaged infrastructure. It should create smarter, greener, and more resilient cities, support innovation, and prepare our economy for future challenges. Mr. President, Lebanon's recovery is an opportunity to build a digital republic, one founded on modern infrastructure, trusted institutions, innovation, and partnership Sorry, Lebanon. I now give the floor to United Republic of Tanzania. Thank you, Mr. President. SDG 9 is central to sustainable economic transformation. Job creation, poverty reduction, and regional and global value chain integration. For Tanzania, industrial development

remains a key priority under Vision 2050, with the promotion of value

addition in agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and mining topping the agenda. Tanzania has invested significantly in infrastructure development in the past two decades to support industrial growth. The national road network expanded, while strategic investments in the standard gauge railway, modernization of port, and airport expansion currently facilitating connectivity and regional market integration within East Africa SADC and African Continental Free Trade Area. Mr. President, numerous challenges remain, including limited access to affordable finance, technology gap, infrastructure financing, and capacity constraints, particularly among SMEs. Going forward towards 2030, we must build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation-driven economic growth, I submit. I now give the floor to the Russian Federation, which will be followed by Spain, Papua New Guinea, and Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Russian Federation, you have the floor. Gospodin, President, ladies and gentlemen, the Russian Federation Russia attaches great importance

to SDG 9 and Russia's achievements as part of it include large-scale modernization of our transport system in different sectors and ensuring ecological industrial development.

We are investing in the concept of environmental industrial policy based on environmentally clean production. A main instrument for implementation of this to ensure green production is best available technology, which set— and set out in ICT Compendium, which contain various resources for use and based on how carbon intense they are. And since 2024, we've had 54, uh, information guides produced. Sustainable economic growth requires modern transport and energy and communication infrastructure, and in order to achieve this, we are modernizing the Trans-Siberian and, by car routes and north-south-west-east transport routes. And we also have a large-scale transport development for the North Sea routes and as international logistical routes. We believe SDG 9 to be one of the 2 or 3 key but also interlinked goals of the 2030 agenda. At the same time, if the project portfolio for international players is often— has— excludes— the speaker's microphone has been cut off. Again, apologize. I now give the floor to the representative of Spain. Thank you, President. Spain reaffirms its commitment to SDG 9. We have ongoing challenges such as gaps in innovation, access to infrastructure, and the need to strengthen knowledge

transfer between science and business. To tackle these challenges, we've worked on our digital, ecological, and

territorial transition and aligned our national action with the Sustainable Development Strategy. We have achieved widespread fiber optic coverage, 96% of households, and we've almost achieved full 5G coverage, which puts Spain high up in the European rankings where connectivity is concerned. We've launched a Deep Tech Strategy for 2026-2030, which, uh, has been furnished with a budget of €8 billion to bring about disruptive technologies based on science such as AI, semiconductors, and clean energy, to strengthen public-private collaboration and strengthen knowledge transfer. Investment in research and development grown to 1.5% of GDP from 2024. And, uh, we've also implemented an agrofood, uh, a, a strategy for the agrofood industry. All of this is part of a more circular model which has been supported by the Circular Economy Strategy 2030 which puts industry at the heart of our transformation promoting reduction in the use of primary resources, reuse, and better management of waste. Thank you. The floor to Papua New Guinea. You have the floor. Mr. President, Papua New Guinea recognizes SDG 9 as a catalyst for long-term prosperity and well-being. It is therefore a key pillar of our current Five-Year Medium-Term Development Plan. Our flagship Connect Papua New Guinea infrastructure program

continues to make historic investments in roads,

electricity, water, air, and sea transport infrastructure. We recognize that infrastructure development must be integrated with environmental safeguards and climate resilience, given the increasing climate crisis' adverse impacts. Every road, bridge, and port construction under Connect Papua New Guinea has to incorporate climate resilience measures. This also supports SDGs 13, 11, and 15. To strengthen industrial growth, we are establishing Special Economic Zones to attract investment, foster downstream agro-industry processing, and diversify our manufacturing sector. Digital transformation for public service delivery is also a national priority. Mobile coverage now reaches 70% of our population, while our Digital Government Infrastructure Program is expanding broadband, e-government, financial inclusion, and digital literacy. Innovation requires investment in education, research, Science and Technology, Papua New Guinea's increase in research and development spending to 0.5% of GDP by 2027. Mr. President, partnerships are vital for us, the G9. We value the support of our partners and encourage this to be further expanded to bridge the financing gap. Finally, despite challenges such as difficult terrain, implementation delays, and capacity we are committed to deliver on this SDG. And I thank you. Thank you, Papua New Guinea. I now give the floor to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to be followed by Germany, Bangladesh, and finally Business and Industry Major Group. Organization of Islamic Cooperation, you have the floor. Thank you, Mr. Chair. On behalf of the General Secretary of the Organization

of Islamic Cooperation and SESRIC, an OIC subsidiary organ mandated with statistics research, training, and technical cooperation, I'm pleased to contribute to this in-depth review on SDG 9. SDG 9 is one of the 8 SDGs prioritized by the OIC

member countries alongside SDGs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 13, reflecting its significant role in advancing the broader 2030 Agenda. According to CESCIC's latest assessment, progress on SDG 9 remains disproportionate across the 57 member countries of the OIC. Between 2015 and 2023, manufacturing value added, an indicator showing the contribution of manufacturing to economic output, increased by a mere 1.9 percentage points, while research and development expenditure in the same period reported an increase in 16 of the 26 OIC member countries with available data. Encouragingly, 4G network coverage reached 90% of the population in 30 OIC member countries in 2023, presenting new opportunities for digital transformation. Mr. Chair, ladies and gentlemen, these statistics underscore the importance of investing in quality infrastructure, innovation, and skills development, particularly through TVET, and leveraging Islamic finance instruments to mobilize long-term resources for infrastructure, industrial development, and SME growth across the OIC member countries. Through its OISTAT database, research products, capacity building programs, and networks, SESTIC will continue to support OIC member countries in advancing SDG 9 and its interlinkages with the other SDGs. As we approach 2030, stronger cooperation, greater investment, and enhanced technology adoption will be essential to building stronger economies and accelerating sustainable development. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank you. I now give the floor to Germany. You have the floor. Thank you, Chair. Germany aligns itself with the EU statement. Our strategy in promoting SDG 9, as well as climate action, affordable energy, decent work, and resilience, builds on three pillars. First, scaling of green technologies. Second, empowering small

and medium-sized enterprises. Third, fostering value addition

and competitive industrial ecosystems. Resilience can only thrive in an enabling environment that encourages innovation, sustainable private investment, and entrepreneurship. To attract such investments, we must expand systemic municipal infrastructure with a focus on circular economy, clean energy, as well as water and water— wastewater treatment. Help partner countries not only enter global markets, but also capture greater added value through competitive industries, modern technologies, and skill build employment. In order to overcome structural, financial, and institutional barriers, Germany applies a fourfold approach: invest in resilient, sustainable infrastructure; 2, create an economic environment that mobilizes climate-friendly investments; 3, strengthen industrial capacities, skills, and value addition through international partnerships; and 4, facilitate voluntary technology transfer on mutually agreed terms and knowledge exchange. By pooling investments, building implementation capacities, and accelerating progress on SDG 9, we secure the broader 2030 Agenda. As the German delegation repeatedly stresses at this year's HLPF, when resilience is nurtured through decisive and collective action, it truly pays off. For every community, every economy, and for our shared planet. I thank you. Thank you, Germany. I now give the floor to Bangladesh. Honourable Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. Bangladesh developmental pathway is closely linked with sustainable developmental goal like others. Which focuses on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization,

and fostering innovation. As Bangladesh navigates the challenges of LDG graduations, financial vulnerabilities,

climate risk, and employment pressure, our government priority is to transform our demographic dividend into a skilled and productive workforce. We are focusing on quality education, technical and vocational education and training, mandatory third language, STEM innovation to prepare our young generation for the jobs of the future. Our government aims to accelerate export diversification and promote entrepreneurship, support startups, and enhance collaboration between academia and industry. Our young population is not a challenge, it is our great asset. With the right skill, technology, and innovation ecosystem, millions of the peoples can become entrepreneur, researcher, skilled professional, and contributor to the sustainable economic growth. Excellencies, we aim to establish science park in our country and follow the CRO model, contract research organization model, to attract the investors on the agriculture, biotechnology, and vaccine research. In this regard, we look forward for the investment in the green technology, sustainable industry, and innovation that will be essential for achieving long-term development. And thank you. Thank you, Bangladesh. Now the last speaker, Business and Industry Major Group. You have the floor. Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. I speak on behalf of BIMG, the International Organization of Employers, and the Federation of Egyptian Industries. For employers, Ours, SDG 9, is where ambition becomes a reality. It's where infrastructure,

innovation, and industrialization either translate to investment, productivity, and jobs or remain

policy language on paper. Egypt experience shows that sustainable industrialization depends on three priorities. First, we must place MSMEs at the center of SDG 8— SDG 9. Too many small firms remain informal, underfinanced, and disconnected from the value chains. If we want inclusive industrialization, we must help MSMEs become productive, formal, bankable, and integrated into industrial clusters and export markets. Second, skills are now the decisive factor for competitiveness. Digitalization is not only about advanced technology It's about whether workers, technicians, supervisors, and managers have practical industry-relevant skills. Without digital production skills, managerial capacity, and sustainability standards, infrastructure will be underused and innovation will be not scaled. Third, we need investment conditions that make infrastructure project bankable. Private capital exists. But it will not flow where projects are poorly prepared, regulations are unpredictable, or skills needs are ignored. Public-private partnerships must therefore be built on credible institutions, clear rules, and early engagement with— engagement with employers. This is where the UN system can add real value by improving coordination, I thank you. You were the last speaker on my list. With your permission, I will now give the floor back to the moderator to hear concluding Remarks. Madam Hajdara, you have the floor. Thank you, Mr. Chair, Excellencies, delegates, ladies and gentlemen. As we come to the close of today's event, I would like to give the floor to our distinguished panelists to share their concluding

reflection. One minute. Be a takeaway or a policy recommendation. I start with Mr. Denton. Thank you very much. I am not a diplomat, but I have listened to all the interventions

because I thought it was important to hear. I make two comments. First, if I accept all the interventions made and the good wishes there, then I'm actually surprised that we haven't delivered on Sustainable Development Goal number 9 because all the activity and all the plans are so compelling.

However, I think we all know that the facts are quite different. Only 3 African countries are investment grade. Only 6, perhaps 7 at best, Latin American economies are investment grade. Only 1 Caribbean economy is investment grade. Not 1 South Pacific Island country is investment grade. So if you want investment in industry,— if you want to deliver on the promise that is actually so well outlined in all your presentations, you have to do something about the systemic blocks to it, is what I've described before. There are systemic inhibitors to the allocation of capital to investment in a number of emerging economies, and that must be righted. That can only be righted by modernizing the actual investment frameworks governed by the Financial Stability Board. You should, if you could, direct your treasuries to this issue. There is material available on the ICC website which would make very clear the interventions that need to be made if we want to deliver on Sustainable Development Goal number 9 in reality, not just in aspiration. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Denton. Mr. Major, for for a 1-minute intervention and followed by our lead discussant, Mr. Van Kookhen. Thank you. Thank you. I'd like to lend my support to the previous speaker on the urgency of providing the certainty that is needed, the public policy that provides certainty for investment and reduces risk. This is an absolute priority. I'm pleased that so many of you

recognize the contribution of freight and logistics systems to industrial development, trade, and resilience.

But it is a concern that so many of you just spoke about infrastructure, and I really warn you, please, please don't just think about infrastructure in isolation. It's only when infrastructure is combined with smart operations, with the right equipment, with the trained workforce and the necessary supporting systems Will it deliver the services that you require and the return of investment you need? So please, please think about those logistics systems. And please also don't forget that no amount of investment will compensate for a lack of intelligent industrial spatial planning. Please think about the locations of resources, processing, and consumption in your macro planning. Thank you. Mr. Van Kooken, please. Adam, and thank you to everyone who lasted this long in today's conversation. I think there were a broad array of different perspectives that were very helpful for us understanding the urgency and perhaps the feasibility to advance partnerships to achieve not just SDG 9, but in fact all of the SDGs. From my perspective, listening to many of the comments today,

a theme that comes to

mind for me is beginning from a state of understanding the systems that exist for your stakeholders and designing a closed loop for understanding the delivery of critical needs and an understanding of what sort of outcomes you will try to achieve. At the larger scale, hopefully we can get to a place where there is clarity and investability across the board for anything that deserves enhancement and can fit into a global system. But there is also the bottoms-up local approach to understanding local needs and meeting them where they are. I think it's just critical to make sure that we have an understanding of to explain exactly what we're doing, how we're doing it, what sort of results we're achieving, and to open the door not just for applying the best tools and intelligent tools that exist in today's world, but in providing clarity for others who wish to assist you in your progress toward achievement of SDG 9 and beyond. Thank you. Thank you very much, Excellencies, From our discussion, what emerged clearly is that we have to speed up. In order to advance SDG 9, we need integrated systems, we need coordinated approaches, we do also need to incorporate both policy advice, international and technical cooperation, investment facilitation, and of course for skills development. We also need strong partnerships

with governments, industries, finance— financial institutions, and development partners. This all fully aligns with UNIDO's approach, and we stand ready to work with all of you. And I'm very pleased to have been given the opportunity share our thoughts. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Madam. Thank you, Moderator, for expertly guiding the discussion. Thank you, distinguished speakers and participants, for your substantive and valuable contribution. Sorry for those who have been— have seen their microphone cut. It's 6 o'clock. We have thus completed our program of work for this meeting. The Forum will reconvene tomorrow at 10:00 AM to continue with its program

of work. Detailed information on the program is available on the HLPF website and on the iGOV platform. Good evening. The meeting is adjourned.