(3rd meeting) High-Level Political Forum 2026

Good morning, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. The third meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, convened under the auspices of Economic and Social Council, 2026 session is called to order. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I invite the Forum to begin its considerations of sub-item B of Agenda Item 2, thematic review. At this meeting, the Forum will hold two panel discussions focusing on the overarching theme of accelerating SDG achievement in African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, and middle-income countries. We shall first hold an interactive panel discussion on African countries' LDCs and LLDCs. As you know that progress to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 remains particularly off track in African countries, in LDCs and in LLDCs, where most targets are either stagnating or advancing too slow— slowly despite continued efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda. This year's HLPF is giving particular attention to accelerating the progress on access to water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, resilient infrastructure, inclusive and sustainable industrialization, sustainable urban development, and strengthen means of implementation and partnerships. I am now pleased to welcome our guest speakers, as well as our moderator, His Excellency Mohamed Fathi Ahmed Idris, Permanent Representative of the African Union to the United Nations. I now hand over the conduct of the discussion to the moderator. Ambassador, you have the floor now.

Good morning, dear friends. Mr. President, thank you very much for setting the stage of this important meeting Honored to be with you and with all distinguished panelists and all the friends present in this session. And as you mentioned, Mr. President, of course this HLEPF is focusing on important items in fulfilling the SDGs and we are having this session, important topic and important participants and discussants and commentators. Of course, accelerating SDGs achievement in African countries, least developed countries, LDCs, landlocked developing countries, LLDCs, and middle-income countries. Actually, this is very important, and I can say that maybe this high-level event is only competing with the Mondial. So the presence here is really a testimony that also the Mondial is not distracting the support of SDGs. And quite frankly, it came to my mind also following the two events that we have these same countries which you are talking about today, they used their human capital to perform and to excel in performance in the mondial. So how can they also match this with similar excellence in achieving and accelerating the SDGs? Maybe this will be answered through our distinguished panelists. We have, of course, a very prominent panelist here, my dear sister, Ms. Rabaa Fatima. Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States. I'm very honored to be with her. We joined forces before in different capacities, and I'm glad to be with her on this panel or on this stage. My dear brother, His Excellency Mr. Vipa Hajiev, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the United Nations, and my dear brother, Mr. Pierre Ngozi Okonkwo, Director of Africa Growth Initiative and Senior Fellow of Global Economy and Development in Brookings Institution. Then we'll have after that the discussant and we have the interactive discussion after that. But let me now hand to the first speaker and for them we have an overarching question for all panelists and then specific one for them in a second round or comeback, but for all distinguished panelists, we are asking them this overarching question: How can policies and institutional frameworks be strengthened to promote sustained economic growth and long-term sustainable development in African countries, LDCs and LLDCs? And back now I hand to my dear sister Ambassador Bafatima to start the journey of responding to this overarching question. And we have time limit. Hopefully, I know that these issues can take days and days of discussion. However, we are obliged to observe time, so hopefully within 3 minutes we can have the response from each of the distinguished panelists. My dear sister, Ambassador Rabbab, the floor is yours. U.S.G.

Thank you very much, Ambassador, my dear brother, and it's such a pleasure to be sharing the podium with you here again, and thank you for your very pertinent question. But before I even start, I will certainly like to respect the time limit that you've set for me, but I hope that you'll allow a few more minutes in view of the fact that I'll be speaking for more than 90 countries. That my office represents. Thank you, my dear brother. Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished friends and colleagues, I would first like to thank you, Mr. President, for convening this important discussion at a critical juncture for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. With less than 5 years remaining, as you have reminded us, Mr. President, it is clear that SDGs progress is seriously off track in African countries LDCs and LLDCs. In sub-Saharan Africa, 45% of the population lives in extreme poverty. In LDCs and LLDCs, the rates stand at 40% and 35%, respectively. Fewer than 2 in 3 have access to electricity, while only around 1 in 3 have access to safely managed sanitation services. Services in these countries. Rapid urbanization is compounding these challenges, with at least half of the urban population living in informal settlements in Sub-Saharan Africa and the LDCs. These are not isolated challenges. They are manifestations of deep-rooted structural vulnerabilities that continue to constrain sustainable development. And this is particularly significant, given that 32 of the 44 least developed countries are in Africa, as are also half of the LLDCs, that is 16 out of the 32. The development pathways are closely intertwined, demanding coherent, integrated, and mutually reinforcing responses. Excellencies, the international community has already agreed on targeted frameworks needed to address these structural challenges. The 2030 Agenda provides the overarching global blueprint for sustainable development. The Doha Programme of Action complements it by addressing the specific structural challenges of the LDCs, while the Awaza Programme of Action does the same for the landlocked developing countries, the LLDCs. At the regional level, Agenda 2063 provides Africa's long-term vision for structural transformation, industrialization, and regional integration. And all these frameworks, Excellencies, are mutually reinforcing. Our challenge today is not the absence of commitments, but ensuring their implementation in a coherent coordinated manner. Allow me, Mr. Moderator, my dear brother, dear Ambassador, to highlight 3 priorities to accelerate that. First, we must strengthen the integration of the 2030 Agenda, the DPOA, the Doha Programme of Action, the Awaza Programme of Action, and the 2063, Agenda 2063, into our national policies. And institutions. These frameworks should guide national development planning in a coherent manner. Effective implementation requires whole-of-government approaches that integrate their priorities into national development plans, sector strategies, and budgets. My office is working very closely with the national focal points in the LDCs and the LLDCs to support this process. Through dedicated mainstreaming toolkits and technical assistance. At the country level, this must be reinforced by stronger alignment within UN country teams, and we work very closely with them to ensure system-wide support is anchored in national priorities and the respective programs of actions. Second, we must strengthen coherence and partnerships for implementation. The program of— programs of action provide an important platform for translating the ambitions of the 2030 Agenda into concrete actions for the LDCs and the LLDCs. This requires stronger integration of their priorities into the strategic and operational frameworks of UN entities, including through their respective governing bodies. It also calls for closer collaboration with regional organizations, international financial institutions, development partners, the private sector, and the civil society, leveraging the comparative advantages of each. In this regard, I commend UNIDO for integrating the Doha Programme of Action into its strategic planning and for convening regular ministerial discussions focused on the LDCs and LLDCs. I also recognize the important role of ESCAP, including through its annual ministerial focus on countries in special situations. These efforts provide important models for system-wide alignment and delivery. And my final point is we must strengthen implementation capacity and accountability. Delivering results requires stronger institutions, better data, and more effective monitoring of progress. And this includes improving national data systems, leveraging tools such as the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index, and strengthening accountability frameworks at both national and international levels. And in this regard, the High-Level Political Forum remains our principal Pearl Platform for reviewing progress, promoting policy coherence, and mobilizing partnerships across the 2030 Agenda. Alongside, my office leads UN system-wide efforts to monitor and report on implementation of the Program of Actions. The upcoming midterm review of the Doha Programme of Action in March 2027 in Doha provides a critical opportunity to identify gaps, strengthen accountability, and mobilize renewed political commitment. Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, we have the frameworks, the evidence, and the policy tools. What is needed now is coordinated implementation, effective mainstreaming, and scaled-up financing at the pace and scale required to meet the SDGs. Let me rest it here for now, dear Ambassador, and I thank you.

Thank you very much, my dear sister, USCG Ambassador Abab. Well done. I hope— I'm sure others will also be the same in excellent presentation, but not exceeding time. Not immediately exceeding the time. So I give to my dear brother Ambassador Vipa.

Thank you very much, Mr. Moderator, my brother Ambassador, Excellencies, Mr. President. From Turkmenistan's perspective, policies and institutional frameworks should focus on one central objective: turning structural vulnerabilities into development opportunities. For African countries, LDCs and LLDCs, this requires moving from fragmented projects to integrated national and regional strategies. Transport, energy, water and sanitation, digital infrastructure, and sustainable cities should not be treated separately. They should be planned as connected systems that support economic diversification, job creation, food and energy security, and access to basic services. In this regard, Turkmenistan has consistently invested in transport and energy connectivity. Over the past decades, the country has developed interregional energy pipelines, modern railways, highways, logistics centers, and the Turkmenbashi International Seaport. These projects support both north-south and east-west transport and energy corridors and help connect wider regions, markets, and people. A second important element is implementation. The Avaza Program of Action for LLDCS provides a clear framework. The priority now is to translate its commitments into concrete investment projects, stronger regional cooperation, improved access to finance, technology transfer, and capacity building. Third, policies must be evidence-based. Tools such as the Atlas of Transport Sustainability can help countries monitor progress, identify gaps, share best practices, and support better decision-making. Finally, institutional frameworks should encourage partnerships among governments, regional organizations, international financial institutions, the UN system, and the private sector. For Turkmenistan, sustainable development is not achieved through declarations alone. It requires practical connectivity, resilient infrastructure, strong institutions, and long-term cooperation. I thank you. I try to be short.

Very well.

Thank you very much, Ambassador Hajeeb, for really very clear message within the very observing, well, the time. Let me then— it was wise for the organizers really to also, in addition to the in-house UN perspective, to have a perspective from Another angle, Brookings Institution, and you have your brother, Mr. Pierre Nigumiku, Director of Africa Growth Initiative and Senior Fellow of Global Economy and Development. So the floor is yours, my brother.

Thank you, Mr. Misoreto. Your Excellencies, Mr. President, Madam Ambassador, it's a pleasure to be here and to take part of this important discussion about the future, the economic future of African countries. On this question, I see 3 priorities, 3 key priorities, maybe 4. So the first one is to make sure that we strengthen financing, the financing, the development financing architecture, which is the foundation of productive economy.— and this includes domestic resource mobilization that requires broadening the tax base, reducing leakages, making tax system supportive for investment and firm formalization, expanding access to credit, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, which forms the largest segment of African and LDC economies, and also make sure that Critical minerals are used more strategically, including through transparent sovereign wealth and stabilization funds. We need to mobilize the diaspora capital for— not only for consumption, as is currently the case, but mostly for productive investment. And more importantly, we need to make sure that Debt sustainability framework preserves the space for growth-enhancing investment rather than forcing countries to cut the very expenditures that will strengthen their future repayment capacity. The second priority is to support structural transformation and job creation. Sustainable development will not come from exporting raw materials or relying on export crops.

Heavily.

The right sequencing is to secure food supply, build stable demand base at home first before moving to the export side. We need to move toward agro-processing, agro-businesses, manufacturing, and regional value chain, and this requires coordinated industrial policy, reliable energy and infrastructure, and also access to finance because technology adoption and also investment in human capital are going to be key factors. And finally, it's important to think about what countries should focus on. And I think countries should focus on a limited number of sectors where there is a realistic competitive advantage with clear performance benchmark and accountability. The third My priority is to make sure that regional integration and global partnerships become more operational than it is currently. At the regional level, regional power pools, transport and digital corridors, trade facilitations and implementations of the Continental Free Trade Area can lower cost, expand markets in a way that helps landlocked countries but also make sure that regional value chains becomes commercially viable. At the global level, African countries should seek partnerships that go beyond the traditional aid dependency, whether it is with the United States, China, Europe, or emerging partners. And the focus should be on investment, on technology, technology transfer, local value addition, and the mutually beneficial production. And perhaps maybe a last point is really to focus on long-term, locally anchored capacity building and skills development. Sustainable expertise is needed in various areas, whether it is in digital services, agro-industry, energy and logistics, manufacturing, data system, etc. We need to build that capacities at all levels within the ministries, regional institutions, universities, think tanks, and not repeatedly importing short-term external consulting. So we need to make sure that we connect the skills with key sectors, especially those that countries are seeking to develop, so that young people are prepared not only for today's labor market but also for emerging opportunities. Thank you, Moderator. I'm stopping here.

Thank you very much, Medhi Braser. Mr. Pierre, and actually for the quality of presentation of our distinguished panelists, we can give them a bonus reward of 2 minutes each to respond to specific questions in addition to the general question which we had before. And again, maybe we can start this time, we can reverse the order. I can now ask Maybe we'll go to the same order so we give rest for our last speaker. So again, my dear sister Ambassador Rabab, the specific question to you is that the international community has adopted ambitious frameworks for countries in special situations. From your perspective, how do you assess the current development landscape for these countries and what should be the top priorities for governments and development partners over the next 5 years? In 2 minutes, please.

Thank you, dear Ambassador. I will try my best to finish within 2 minutes. The development landscape for countries in special situations is defined by a widening gap between ambition and delivery. While the international community has adopted strong and comprehensive frameworks, progress towards the SDGs these remain far off track. And the countries furthest behind are overwhelmingly, overwhelmingly African countries, LDCs and LLDCs. This matters because the 2030 Agenda will ultimately be won or lost in these countries. The next 5 years, therefore, is critically important in recovering lost ground, accelerating implementation, and translating commitments into measurable improvements in the people's lives in these countries. Allow me, Mr. Ambassador, to highlight two key priorities. First, we must accelerate SDG implementation where the gaps are greatest, including by addressing the $4 trillion annual SDG funding gap. And my brother here highlighted also very importantly that point. These programs of actions already provide practical roadmaps and targeted solutions. For the LLDCs, for instance, this means closing the estimated $500 billion transport infrastructure gap through the proposed infrastructure investment finance facility. At the same time, structural bottlenecks in transit remain severe. Goods take 4 times longer to clear ports and reach LLDC economies. So the high-level panel of the Secretary-General on the freedom of transit for landlocked countries will play an important role in identifying practical solutions and advancing global action to improve transit systems for them. For LDCs, strengthening productive capacity and investment readiness remains central. The Investment Support Center, which is in the Doha Programme of Action, will support countries in developing bankable projects and connecting them to investors. We are also advancing the resilience building mechanism, the food stockholding mechanism, and the online university to strengthen resilience, food security, and human capital. Graduation support also remains a key priority, ensuring that countries transition sustainably and without disruption. In this context, I would like to express my sincere appreciation of the State of Qatar for its generous support which has been instrumental in advancing these initiatives. Second, we must strengthen the means of implementation through stronger partnerships and scaled-up support. International support, central to SDG 17, has not kept pace with growing needs. ODA has declined significantly in recent years, while financing gaps continue to widen. FDI remains critically low, with African countries, LDCs and LLDCs accounting for just 3% of the global stock. And this is despite their considerable natural resources, including about 30% of the world's critical minerals. So what we need now is more investment and industrialization. Reversing these trends, Excellencies, will require more accessible concessional funding, scaled-up climate finance, stronger support for technology transfer, capacity building, and data systems, as well as innovative financing instruments that mobilize greater private investment. Progress will depend on strong and sustained partnerships such as that shown by the leadership of Qatar in supporting key LDC initiatives. I also commend the Government of Finland for its leadership One minute, Mr. Chairman. For its leadership through the LDC Future Forum, which has provided an important platform for focused dialogue and forward-looking solutions for LDCs. And we would— we need more of such initiatives to mobilize political momentum, partnerships, and practical solutions. So let me quickly jump to the end. The solutions are known. The policy frameworks are in place. What is needed now is implementation at scale, supported by political will, adequate financing, and genuine international solidarity. Seeing the full room here today makes me very reassured that we indeed have the solidarity and support in this room. Let us work together to ensure that no one is left behind. I'm sorry about taking an additional minute, but thank you, dear Ambassador.

Thank you very much, my dear sister, Ambassador Rabab. I know that issues deserve more time, but nothing we can do in this. And back to the other Ambassador Hajeeb with a specific question about what practical and scalable solutions can LLDCs pursue to accelerate progress on key areas such as water and sanitation, energy, infrastructure, sustained— sustainable cities, and partnerships? Please, Turgut.

Thank you for a question. For LLDCs, practical and scalable solutions should begin with integrated infrastructure planning. Water and sanitation, energy, transport, digital systems, and urban development should be planned together, not as separate sectors. First, LLDCs need resilient transport and logistics corridors. Without reliable access to markets, it's difficult to attract investment, reduce trade costs, or support industrial development. Turkmenistan's experience shows the importance of multimodal infrastructure—railways, highways, logistics centers, and seaports—linked to wider regional corridors. Second, energy connectivity is essential. Stable and diversified energy links can support economic growth, industry, digital services, and the functioning of critical infrastructure, including water and sanitation systems. Third, water and sanitation should be integrated into broader development planning. This means linking investments in basic services with energy efficiency, urban planning, climate resilience, and local capacity building. For LLDCs, such an approach is more sustainable than isolated projects. Fourth, sustainable cities and logistics hubs can become engines of regional development. They should be designed around connectivity, digital solutions, resource efficiency, and access to public services. Fifth, data and innovation matter. The UN Decade of of Sustainable Transport together with the Decade of Sustainable Energy provides an opportunity to strengthen evidence-based planning. Once again, the Atlas of Transport Sustainability can also become a useful tool for identifying infrastructure gaps and supporting better policy choices. Finally, partnerships are the key condition for scale. The LDCs need predictable financing technology transfer, capacity building, and strong cooperation with transit countries, international financial institutions, the private sector, and the UN system. Our country Turkmenistan remains ready to work with all partners to advance practical solutions that connect countries, expand opportunities, and support achievement of SDGs.

I thank you. Thank you very much, Ambassador Hajeev. Back to Mr. Pierre to ask him about what forms of international cooperation, financing, and capacity building can most effectively help countries manage vulnerabilities and external shocks while maintaining progress toward the SDGs and building long-term resilience and productive capacity. Back to you, Mr. Pierre. Thank you, Mr.

Moderator. This is a very important question and I will highlight three key priorities. The first is that international finance must become more concessional, more predictable, and counter-cyclical. If you look at the way that many vulnerable countries when they are hit by a shock and they need more finance, this is when capital becomes more expensive. So this is a paradox. I think multilateral development banks and other partners should expand long-term concessional finance to cover this type of risk. They should develop guarantees and also expand shock contingent instruments, financial instruments, instrument. Debt contracts should include clauses that automatically suspend payment, for example, when a major climate or economic shock occurs, right? And this could be some of the type of solution that we can think about. Debt sustainability framework should protect investment in key sectors such as energy, infrastructure, health, education, and jobs. The second priority is that international cooperation should protect SDG investment from fiscal adjustment, because adjustment programs that compress public investment may improve short-term indicators but can weaken long-term sustainability. International support should help countries establish a minimum protected spending for key areas such as health, education, water and energy access, infrastructure, as well as social protection. We also should be thinking carefully about how financing framework can distinguish between unproductive expenditure and investment that expand future growth and fiscal capacity. And the third priority that I would highlight is that we need to redefine capacity building as a long-term, locally anchored institutional partnership. So this means that capacity building should not only focus on externally designed technical assistance, it should strengthen institutions, national institutions on various areas such as domestic revenue mobilization, data system, climate risk assessment, and negotiation of complex financing agreements because these are some of the key areas where skills are most needed. It should also build on and retain local expertise through partnership between institutions, between universities, think tanks, and regional institutions. So I see this as a package that goes together into supporting this objective.

Thank you. Thank you very much, dear brother, Mr. Pierre, and now After we listen to these very important, insightful presentations by our distinguished panelists, maybe we should complement this by inviting our lead discussant to make comments and address questions. And our lead discussant is Ms. Queen Bissing, the Inclusivity Project Stakeholder Group of Communities Discriminated by Work and Dissent, and invite her to, in 3 minutes, to make comments and raise some questions. So most welcome, distinguished Miss Quinn.

Thank you, Mr. Moderator. Across Africa, many people continue to face structural barriers because of poverty, gender inequality, disability, geography, conflicts, and discrimination. Amongst them are communities discriminated on work condition, such as the Aratene in Mauritania, the Osu in Nigeria, and other historically marginalized communities across the continent, whose inherited social status continues to determine opportunities from one generation to the next. Women still walk several kilometers and several times a day to fetch for water. Family members fall ill because of unsafe water. Young girls miss school during menstruation due to inadequate sanitation facilities, which contribute to preventable diseases that affect children's health, nutrition, and educational outcome. We cannot achieve SDG 6 if access to safe water and sanitation remains unequal. Water is not just infrastructure, it is a human right. We cannot achieve SDG 7, while millions continue to experience energy poverty, expanding decentralized renewable energy solutions backed by concessional finance and technology transfer to reach rural and marginalized communities that traditional systems have failed to serve. We cannot achieve SDGs 9 and 11 if infrastructure, industrialization, and urban development are designed without the participation of those who have historically been excluded. And we cannot achieve SDG 17 without genuine partnership that recognizes communities not as beneficiaries, but as co-creators of solutions. If we do not address these structural inequalities, we will struggle to achieve the goals under review this year. At the same time, we must recognize that many African countries, LDCs and LADCs, are trying to deliver the 2030 Agenda while facing shrinking official development assistance and growing debt burden. Accelerating progress will therefore require not only stronger national leadership, but also renewed international solidarity fairer financing, and meaningful partnership. As we move closer to 2030, my message is simple: if we are serious about accelerating SDGs, we must deliberately reach those left furthest behind, because sustainable development Thank you, Ms.

Green, for these comments and raising these questions. And after thank you, thanks to our distinguished panelists and our lead discussant, I now hand back the floor to our able President, President of ECOSOC, Ambassador Lok Thippa, to lead the interactive discussion.

The floor is back to you, President. Thank you. Thank you, Moderator, Ambassador, for conducting this panel. We'll now proceed to the interactive discussions. Delegations wishing to intervene are invited to request the floor by pressing the microphone button now. I also take this opportunity to remind participants that the time limit— I have already seen that some of the delegations have already pressed the microphone button. So time limit for the interventions for the groups is 3 minutes and 1.5 minutes for the national statement. Please bear in mind that the time limit may need to be adjusted again if need be, probably not, in case speakers exceed their time limit, the microphone will be automatically deactivated. I apologize in advance if speakers are cut off. This measure is being taken to ensure that all speakers can deliver their statement in the limited time available for the discussions. With this, I first give the floor to the respondent, His Excellency Carole Martin Noga, Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations and Vice Chair in the Bureau of the Group of LLDCs.

Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. President, Excellencies, colleagues. While progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals remains uneven, experience has shown that transformation is possible when a national leadership, strong institutions, and effective partnerships come together. Speaking as an African country, a landlocked developing country, and a country aspiring to graduate from the LDC category in the future, Rwanda would like to share 3 practical reflections. First, sustainable development requires strong national ownership and institutions that can deliver. Our experience demonstrates that progress comes from integrated policies, long-term planning, and investment that reinforce one another. Over the past 7 years, more than 1.5 million people have been lifted out of poverty. Access to electricity has expanded to more than 75% of households, while access to improved drinking water has exceeded 90%. These achievements have been supported by investments in digital transformation, health, education, infrastructure, and productive sectors. The lesson is clear: we must move beyond fragmented approaches. To accelerate progress, countries need strong institutions, effective policy coordination, reliable data, and the capacity to translate plans into results. Second, we must ensure that global commitments translate into implementation on the ground. The Doha Program of Action and the AWASA Program of Action provide us with the frameworks. The priority now is to ensure that these commitments are reflected in national development strategies, public investments, and partnerships that deliver measurable outcomes. Graduation should not mean reduced support. Rather, it should mark a transition towards stronger and more resilient economies with continued access to finance, technology, and markets. Third, accelerating the SDGs requires a strong— a stronger financial financing and partnership approach. Many developing countries continue to face limited fiscal space, debt pressures, and climate-related shocks. The SDGs— the SDG financing gap remains measured in trillions of dollars annually. Addressing this challenge requires not only additional resources, but also more effective ways of mobilizing and redirecting finance. Mr. President, the remaining years to 2030 must be years of delivery. For African countries, air disease and air disease acceleration will come from scaling what works. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

I thank the Permanent Representative of Rwanda for his statement. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Morocco, speaking on behalf of the African states.

Thank you, Mr. President. I have the honor to deliver these remarks on behalf of the African Group. Africa approaches the discussion with clear sense of purpose. The continent has already defined its development vision through Agenda 2063, fully aligned with the ambition of the 2030 Agenda. Our priority today is therefore not to redefine our objectives, but to accelerate their implementation through coordinated action stronger international cooperation, international solidarity, and multilateralism. For Africa, achieving sustainable development begins with structural transformation. It requires investment in people, productive capacities, and resilient institutions. It also requires expanding access to water and sanitation, accelerating the energy transition, strengthening infrastructure, promoting innovation, and advancing inclusive and sustainable industrialization. These are not isolated priorities. They are mutually reinforcing drivers of inclusive growth and lasting resilience. In this regard, the Fourth Industrial Development Decade for Africa, IDA4, provides a timely and strategic framework to accelerate implementation across the Sustainable Development Goals by promoting value addition and competitiveness, economic diversification, Diversification, technological innovation, and decent job creation. IDA 4 reinforces both the aspiration of Agenda 2063 and our collective global commitment to leave no one behind. Mr. President, the continent has demonstrated its commitment. What is now required is an enabling international environment that allows countries to translate commitment into tangible results. This means expanding and improving access to affordable financing, including concessional finance and grants, facilitating technology transfer, strengthening capacity building, and fostering partnerships that respect national ownership and respond to countries' development priorities. As we move towards 2030, Africa remains ready to do its part through the implementation of our common positions, deeper regional integration, including the African Continental Free Trade Area, and stronger partnerships with international community, we can accelerate progress and deliver sustainable development that is transformative, inclusive, and lasting. Let us therefore move from commitment to implementation and from shared ambition to shared results. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Morocco speaking on behalf of the African states. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Nepal, speaking on behalf of the LDCs.

Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Group of Least Developed Countries. For the LDCs, progress continues to be constrained by structural vulnerabilities, widening financing gaps, adverse climate impacts, debt distress, and an increasingly uncertain global economy. The LDC Group would like to highlight 3 critical areas for focused action. First, the 6 priority areas of Doha Programme of Action and 5 key deliverables. Must be translated into concrete action at the country level. This is indispensable for LDCs to address their structural challenges, build productive capacity, and strengthen national institutions, infrastructure, human capital, and national statistical systems. The DPUA Mid-term Review next year offers a unique opportunity to go beyond stock-taking to deliver renewed ambition, stronger accountability, and additional means of implementation for LDCs. Second, financing, strengthened international assistance and technical support are critical. In the case of LDCs, ODA is critical. It remains the largest source of external finance for many of them and is crucial for poverty eradication, domestic resource mobilization and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. In the meantime, it must be complemented by innovative partnership that leverages public and private investment. Multilateral development banks should expand blended finance, guarantees and local currency financing to support investment in renewable energy, digital infrastructure, transport, water, sustainable industrialization and urban development and other productive sectors. The international community should expand access to concessional finance, standard debt treatment mechanism, improve climate adaptation and disaster risk financing, technology transfer, human capital development and better integrate vulnerability into international financing frameworks. Thirdly, we underscored strengthening a well-resourced and agile United Nations system to to deliver on LDC-specific mandates and global commitments. We underline the importance of UNAID reform as a tool for strengthening rather than weakening the UN system's support to the LDCs across its various work streams so as to be more impactful and effective in support of national needs and priorities. To conclude, Mr. President, as you approach both 2030 deadline and DPOA midterm review, the international community must move decisively from commitments to implementation., placing those furthest behind at the center of our collective efforts. The LDC Group remains committed to working closely with all partners to ensure that our collective commitments deliver meaningful improvements in the lives of 1.2 billion people in LDCs. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Nepal speaking on behalf of the least developed countries. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of European Union speaking on behalf of Is the European Union. speaking on behalf of the group.

Mr. Chair, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states. The European Union and its member states remain steadfast partners of African countries, LDCs and LLDCs, in accelerating implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Together, the Doha and Awaza Program of Action provide important roadmaps for implementation. They remind us that progress for LDCs and NLDCs requires more than commitments. It requires investment, stronger and more accountable institutions, connectivity, productive capacity, resilience, including to climate change, and inclusive partnerships that deliver results on the ground. Mr. Chair, this is the approach underpinning the European Union's Global Gateway strategy, which is the EU's main external contribution to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Through Global Gateway, the EU is working with partner countries to mobilize sustainable and high-quality investments that respond to national priorities and deliver lasting benefits. For LDCs and LLDCs, Global Gateway plays an important role in helping to close infrastructure gaps, improve connectivity, strengthen regional integration, diversify economies, and create opportunities for young people and women. Some concrete examples: 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, the EU is supporting regional power infrastructure and renewable energy investments, including the Ruzizi III regional hydropower project and the Zambia-Tanzania-Kenya interconnector. On digital connectivity, Global Gateway is helping expand fiber optic backbones rural connectivity and digital infrastructure in partner countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. Our collective focus must be on impact. Better partnerships, better investment, better implementation and better outcomes for the people of LDCs and LLDCs. This is why core principles such as democratic values, Good governance and transparency, as well as equal partnerships, are woven into the fabric of the Global Gateway approach. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of European Union speaking on behalf of group. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of India, to be followed by Italy.

Thank you, Mr. President. The greatest challenge to accelerating the SDGs lies in ensuring that LDCs, LLDCs, and African countries who face structural vulnerabilities are equipped with the means to implement nationally identified priorities. Lasting progress requires nationally owned and evidence-based strategies supported by an enabling international environment, as other speakers have also pointed out. Pointed out. India's development partnerships with African countries, LDCs and LDCs, are guided by these very principles. Through demand-driven cooperation, India has supported partner countries in strengthening digital public infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, renewable energy, connectivity, capacity building, and skills development. Initiatives such as the India-UN Development Partnership Fund and I-TECH demonstrate practical South-South cooperation solutions. Recent international commitments must now be translated into implementation through predictable means of implementation. Going forward, we should expand productive capacities, strengthen infrastructure and digital connectivity, invest in human capital and local institutions, and foster practical partnerships that enable the countries in special situations to achieve sustainable development in accordance with their own priorities. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of India. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Italy, to be followed by Tanzania.

Thank you, Mr. President. Italy is pleased to share its experience in advancing safely managed drinking water and sanitation through an integrated national partnership. Water is health. Progress on SDG 6 is strongest when water, health, and governance and addressed together. Italy has shifted from compliance-based control to risk-based prevention across an entire drinking water supply chain. The Italian National Institute of Health supports risk assessment, water safety planning, and integrated information systems. Through the SEACARE model, we are expanding the source-to-sea approach by action based on intersectoral knowledge., a spot on One Water and One Health approach. Italy is leading the water resilience action on UNICEF-WHO protocol and water and health with the Netherlands. A concrete example of our engagement is the recently approved initiative under the Mattei Plan consisting of a policy-based loan of the government of Morocco aimed at supporting the implementation of its national water strategy. A key message we would like to convey is that the Italian approach is both flexible and scalable. It has proven effective in supporting progress across different contexts, including low-income and developing countries. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Italy, and now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Republic of Tanzania, to be followed by IDLO.

Thank you, Chair.

We meet at a time when global SDG progress remains off track, particularly in Africa, in African countries, LDCs and NLDCs, where structural constraints continue to slow down transformation. Tanzania is, however, making steady progress under the long-term plans, which has propelled our country to the middle income, lower middle income status. Chair, accelerating SDG achievement requires three priorities: investing in resilience, infrastructure, and productive sectors; deepening regional integration and mobilizing predictable and technologies. Chair, Tanzania remains committed to working with all partners to ensure no country is left behind in achieving SDGs 2030. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Tanzania. Now I give the floor to the International Development Law Organizations, to be followed by Portugal.

Thank you, Mr.

President. As we discuss how to accelerate SDG progress in African countries, LDCs and LLDCs, One lesson stands out: sustainable development requires not only investment and infrastructure but also sound laws and policies, effective and accountable institutions, good governance, and inclusive participation. Strengthening the rule of law is not a peripheral issue. It is at the core of accelerating implementation across the 2030 Agenda. At IDLO, the partnerships we have developed across Africa and in LDCs and LDCs have supported countries in strengthening their legal and institutional frameworks to create the foundation for sustainable development. Let me highlight three ways in which IDLO has mobilized these partnerships. First, IDLO supports its partners to develop laws and policies that help build enabling environments for investment and trade, resolve commercial disputes, and promote inclusive economic growth. Second, we facilitate digital solutions that advance economic and social development by strengthening transparency and equitable participation. And finally, we support the economic empowerment of women and youth by equipping them with legal knowledge, services, and protections they need to claim and exercise their rights. Our experience underscores that targeted legal and institutional support helps countries and communities build trust and resilience, reduce inequalities, and mobilize the investment needed to achieve sustainable development. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the Director-General of International Development Law Organization. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Portugal, to be followed by Holy See.

Thank you, Mr. President. Portugal aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union. Excellencies, sustainable development requires more than financing alone. It requires coherent policies, strong institutions, regional integration, and long-term partnerships grounded in trust, ownership, and shared responsibility. Above all, it requires implementation and translating commitments into concrete results. For LDCs, the 2027 Mid-term Review of the DPOA should renew momentum, strengthen partnerships, and support smooth and sustainable graduations. Building also on the work of the ADOC Working Group on Smooth Transitions, co-chaired by Angola and Finland. For LLDCs, connectivity, lower trade costs, and predictable financing for transport, energy, and resilient infrastructure remain essential. Portugal supports stronger private sector engagement, including through global gateway projects such as the Lubito Corridor. Portugal supports efforts to go beyond GDP, including complementary metrics to better capture development realities. We also value triangular cooperation and our development cooperation strategy 2030 bilateral and multilateral partnerships, capacity building initiatives, and UN Portugal Fellowship on Ocean, Digital, and Outer Space. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Portugal. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Holy See, to be followed by Thailand and Qatar.

Mr. President, as we approach the deadline of the 2030 Agenda, it is critical that the international community takes action to address the challenges hindering progress in development. In this regard, poverty, especially extreme poverty, is the most significant global challenge. This persistence, it is in its many dimensions, continues to deprive millions, especially women and children, to access adequate food, clean water, healthcare, education, and decent work. Poverty constitutes a grave affront to the inherent God-given dignity of the human person. The words of Pope Leo XIV to not let our guard down when it comes to poverty are a call to prioritize the eradication of poverty, which is an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. In this regard, renewed and strengthened support for African countries—LDCs, LLDCs, and MICs—is essential. This includes enhancing access to concessional financing, promoting fairer trade systems, facilitating the transfer of technology, and advancing meaningful debt relief. Mr. President, the Holy See wishes to emphasize the vital role of the family as a fundamental unity of society. Policies on that regard should be strengthened. Thank you, Mr.

President. I thank the distinguished representative of Holy See. Now, I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Thailand. Mr.

Chair, with the depth of challenge that special situation creates for LDC, LLDC, middle-income countries, and many African countries, Thailand endeavours to support implementation of the Doha Programme of Action for LDC and the Asawa Programme of Action via LDC. Furthermore, Thailand has strengthened our engagement with Africa through launching Thailand Africa Initiative and creating Thailand Africa Development Forum to be the platform that elevates Thailand's role to become Africa's key development partner. Through South-South and triangular cooperation, we are willing to work with our development partners in alignment with the 2030 Agenda. And as emerging development partners, we want to share our experience in addressing the challenges we focus along our development path with LDC and LDC. Thailand draws on our local wisdom and a homegrown approach of Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, or SEP, to build up one immunity against future impact and unforeseen external disruption, thereby eliminating vulnerabilities where possible. Through Thailand International Cooperation Agency, or Taika, we stand ready to work closely with LDC/LODC, Middle Income Country, and partner countries in Africa in advancing implementation of the SDGs without leaving anyone behind.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Thailand. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Qatar, to be followed by Sudan.

Thanks, Mr. President and Excellencies. I'm pleased to speak on behalf of Education Above All Foundation, established by the State of Qatar. Over the last 15 years, EAA has worked together with governments, United Nations agencies, civil society organizations, academia, and local communities to improve access to quality education and create opportunities for children and young people in some of the world's most challenging contexts. Our experience has taught us one thing, one important lesson, which is highly relevant to today's discussion. Human capital is the infrastructure upon which sustainable economic growth is built. When we discuss economy and growth in African countries, least developing countries, landlocked developing countries, and middle-income countries, we often focus on physical infrastructure, financing, and industrial development. These investments are for sure essential, but the only thing that guarantees achieving a last impact is when we match by sustainable investment in people. So across EAA's global profile in more than 77 countries, we have seen that education is not simply a social investment, it's actually an economic one. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Qatar. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sudan, to be followed by ECA. Thank you, Mr.

Chair. Sudan aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the African and LDCs groups and wish to add this on its own national. Progress remains too slow, too uneven, and too fragile to meet the 2030 deadline. The structural barriers are well known: narrow physical space, mounting debt, limited access to finance, and compounding infrastructure gaps. What is less certain is whether our responses match the urgency. Therefore, Sudan wishes to underscore four priorities. First, financing must move from pledges to delivery, addressing the cost of capital that penalizes vulnerable economies beyond their actual risk. Second, regional and cross-border cooperation, especially for LLDCs, must be treated as core infrastructure policy, not afterthought. Third, we cannot discuss acceleration without confronting fragility and conflict head-on. A growing share of African countries and LLDCs are affected by conflict and instability, including our own. Country, where development gains are not just slowed but reversed. Fourth, the translation gap between commitment and implementation remains a persistent obstacle, sharper still where state capacity is already stretched thin. In conclusion, Sudan stands ready to contribute constructively and looking forward to the upcoming midterm review of the Doha Programme of Action. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Sudan. Now I give the floor to the Executive Secretary of Economic Commission for Africa, to be followed by Zimbabwe.

Yeah, thank you, Chair.

African middle-income countries face an annual financing gap of close to $600 to $300 billion and remain vulnerable to high debt burdens, limited fiscal access, fiscal space, shallow capital markets, restricted concessional finance, climate change, commodity price volatility, and external shocks, increasing the risk of middle-income trap. The ECA is supporting middle-income countries through evidence-based policy advice, innovative financing solutions, and capital markets development, among others. On least developed countries, ECA and OHRLS prepared an analytical report on Doha Programme of Action implementation in African RDCs, noting progress in health, education, and human development, but continued fragility due to food insecurity, declining social protection, and slow structural transformation. ECA supports this through integrated national planning, regional integration, and domestic resource mobilization and peer learning. On landlocked developing countries, African RDC faces structural constraints from lack of sea access, high transport and trade costs, commodity dependence, infrastructure gaps, rising debt, climate vulnerability, and external shocks limiting competitiveness and SDG progress.

I'm sorry, Executive Secretary— thank you, Executive Secretary of Economic Commission for Africa. Now I give the floor to the This is the representative of Zimbabwe, to be followed by Azerbaijan.

Thank you very much, Mr. President, and a very good morning. Zimbabwe welcomes the convening of this timely debate. For many African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, and middle-income countries, the path to achieving Sustainable Development Goals remains a challenge. The challenges include limited fiscal space, unsustainable debt burdens, climate-induced shocks, trade barriers, infrastructure deficits, and indeed technological gaps. For Zimbabwe, we have embraced an integrated approach in our national development frameworks. Zimbabwe investing in infrastructure development, accelerating industrialization, modernizing agriculture, expanding digital connectivity, and indeed promoting sustainable utilization and value addition of our natural minerals and resources. Strategic investments in transport corridors, energy infrastructure, irrigation infrastructure, and the like are going to help us sustain growth and development. As a landlocked country, Zimbabwe depends on partnerships and we do welcome the Iwasa Programme of Action and therefore we need to accelerate implementation. Mr. Chairman, the national efforts to achieve SDGs cannot succeed in isolation.

I thank the distinguished representative of Zimbabwe. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Azerbaijan to be followed by Saudia Arabia.

Thank you, Mr. President. Dear friends, dear colleagues, as we approach 2030, the essential challenge is to close the implementation gap. For many countries, progress is constrained by limited fiscal space, high cost of capital, debt pressure, climate vulnerability, infrastructure gaps, and unequal access to technology and finance. Azerbaijan believes that SDG acceleration requires 3 practical shifts. First, national ownership must be supported by integrated planning and financing. Azerbaijan has mainstreamed the SDGs into national development strategies, strengthened the voluntary national review process, and advanced localization initiatives so that global goals translate into concrete outcomes for communities. Second, infrastructure and connectivity must be treated as development accelerators. As landlocked country, we have We have worked to transform geographic constraints into opportunities by investing in transport, energy, and digital links. The Middle Corridor and the Digital Silk Way both are Trans-Caspian projects that we are investing and driving forward with our regional neighboring friendly countries. Both are examples of how connectivity can expand trade, reduce expand trade, reduce bottlenecks, and create new bridges between regions. This experience is relevant for LLDCs.

I thank the distinguished representative of Azerbaijan. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia, to be followed by Armenia. Shukran sayyid al-raees. Thank you, Mr.

Chairman, Your Excellencies. Distinguished delegates, thank you. The Kingdom reconfirms its commitment to support international efforts to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs, particularly in African LLDC and LDCs, as well as middle-income countries, because we believe that sustainable development is not only a sectoral limited response but an approach built on international partnerships, building the capacities of countries and investments in economic ventures. That's why the Kingdom's Fund for Development supports programs that respond to the needs of beneficiaries and contribute to economic growth as well as improving the services provided. The long-term effect in making efforts compatible with the midterm review is that we support the water projects in Lesotho that provided the needs for people to— potable water. We believe that investment in infrastructure is not limited to providing services. It reflects on health. Quality of life and economic growth. Thank you, sir.

I thank the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Armenia, to be followed by China.

Thank you, President. At a time when global progress on SDGs remain off track, countries in special situations face structural constraints that further slow their development gains despite sustained national efforts. For LDCs, these constraints are particularly visible in infrastructure and connectivity, trade, energy, productive capacity, and access to financing. For Armenia, as a landlocked and middle-income country, this discussion is not abstract. Reliable, efficient, and multimodal connectivity at national, regional, and global levels is essential to diversify economy, attract investment, expand trade, connect to value chains, and create opportunities for sustainable growth. This is the broader vision behind Armenia's Crossroads of Peace initiative, which seeks to contribute to regional international trade and transport connectivity on the basis of full respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, national jurisdiction, and reciprocity. At the same time, many connectivity projects in LLDCs remain difficult to advance because of limited fiscal space, underdeveloped project pipelines, high perceived risks, and constraints in access to long-term and affordable financing. In this regard, the proposed Infrastructure Investment and Financing Facility for LLDCs can help countries to prepare bankable projects, mobilize investment, and better connect infrastructure priorities with necessary financing. To conclude, SDG Acceleration in NLDs must turn structural constraints into development opportunities, and we will continue to work with our partners in advancing this agenda and support practical solutions for countries in special situations. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Armenia. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of China, to be followed by women's major group.

President, all parties should support African countries, LDCs and LLDCs, in achieving sustainable development. First, it is imperative to adhere to openness and cooperation rather than setting barriers. The international community should support open markets, reduce trade barriers, and create more development opportunities for developing countries. China has offered zero tariff treatment for 100% tariff lines to LDCs with which we have diplomatic ties. Since last May, the zero-tariff treatment has been expanded to all African countries with which we have diplomatic ties so that they can share the dividends of the Chinese market and achieve common development. Second, it is important to enhance the capacity for independent development. Rather than focusing on short-term relief, the international community should increase investment in infrastructure, clean energy, digital technology, strengthen capacity for disaster reduction and climate adaptation, and improve the self-driven development of developing countries. So far, GDI, since its launch, has mobilized over $23 billion, conducted more than 1,800 cooperation programs, held tens of thousands of capacity-building projects, and trained 200,000 talents in support of the 2030 Agenda. Third, it is necessary to strengthen solidarity and cooperation rather than widening the development gap. The international community should support the UN and narrow the digital gap, technological gap, and development gap. China will work together with all parties to contribute to the accelerated implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

Thank you. The distinguished representative of China. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of women's major group, to be followed by Algeria.

Is calling for urgent action. SDG acceleration in Africa is not possible without fiscal justice. Africa's public debt has more than quadrupled since the early 2000s, reaching $2 trillion in 2024, with debt service obligations projected to will exceed $100 billion in 2026. 28 African countries now spend more on debt servicing than on health. Meanwhile, Sub-Saharan Africa collects less tax as a share of GDP than any other region, averaging just 13.8%, leaving too little revenue to fund gender-responsive public services. Women remain structurally excluded from the gains of African economies. Their unpaid care work continues to subsidize the state, yet remains absent from national accounts and SDG financing frameworks. What is not counted is not financed. What is not financed will not be delivered by 2030. We call on member states and stakeholders to implement comprehensive debt relief and restructuring that create fiscal space for sustainable development, to address illicit financial flows and strengthen progressive taxation, to formally recognize and invest in the care economy, ensuring unpaid care work is measured, valued and resourced rather than left in an unaccounted for subsidy. Fiscal justice is the foundation of SDG acceleration in Africa. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Women's Major Group. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Algeria, to be followed by Laopedia.

Thank you, Mr. President. Algeria remains deeply concerned about the slow pace of development across Africa—LDCs, LLDCs, and MIGS—and the persistent structural constraints that include limited fiscal space, mounting debt burdens, inadequate access to finance, and international financial architecture unfit to developing countries' needs. Algeria firmly believes that accelerating SDG achievements requires, first, reforming the global financial system to expand affordable, predictable financing and to address debt vulnerabilities through restructuring and swap for SDGs. It requires, second, genuine technology transfer and capacity building, particularly in renewable energy, water management, and industrialization. Areas where Algeria itself is investing heavily and where we stand ready to share experience through South-South cooperation. It requires, last but not least, a reinforced regional and international cooperation to overcome together multiple challenges. We underscore in this regard the importance of regional connectivity and infrastructure, including the Trans-Saharan Highway, gas pipeline, and fiber optic backbone as concrete contributions to the continental integration.

I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Algeria. Now, I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Laopedia, to be followed by Mozambique.

Mr. President, Excellency, the Laopedia speaks today in its capacity as both LDC and LLDC. For our nation, LDC graduation will be a historic milestone for the Lao PDR. In anticipation, we have adopted a comprehensive smooth transition strategy centered on macroeconomic stability, structural transformation, human capital development, and climate resilience. Mr. President, allow me to highlight 3 priorities for acceleration. First, addressing structural constraints. As a landlocked state, geography remains our most binding constraint. Transport and transit costs are 2 to 3 times higher than for coastal states. To overcome this, we are accelerating transformative investment in climate-resilient infrastructure to ensure year-round connectivity. Second, delivering results for our people. We are expanding access to clean water, sanitation, and affordable clean energy for our rural and remote communities. Third, strengthening the means of implementation. This means advancing green and digital industrialization and mobilizing enhanced international support. To close the SDG financing gap, we seek predictable climate financing and technology transfer. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Laos, Pidyan. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mozambique, to be followed by Türkiye.

Thank you, Mr. President. Mozambique remains committed to achieving the SDGs despite the challenge regarding access to financing and the impact of climate change. To this end, Mozambique has been prioritizing investment in climate-resilient urban and rural infrastructure. Through the centralized program, we have expanded access to safe drinking water and safely managed sanitation, thereby reducing regional disparities. As a way to accelerate access to energy, industrialization, and infrastructure, Mozambique has adopted the Energy for All program while advancing a just energy transition by leveraging our vast potential in renewable and hydroelectric energy. This not only drives sustainable industrialization, but also consolidates Mozambique's position as a strategic sustainable energy hub and the key logistic corridors for the SADC region and landlocked countries. For developing African countries, the core challenge continues being the financing for development. To address this, Mozambique has been implementing structural reform to enhance domestic resource mobilization and improve the business environment. However, to bridge the gaps in SDG 17, greater international solidarity among nations is imperative.

I thank the distinguished representative of Mozambique. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Türkiye, to be followed by Germany. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair. For African countries, LDCs and LLDCs, to achieve long-term sustainable development, establishing strong domestic technological foundations is essential. That's why we are proudly hosting and the primary donor of the UN Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries, an institution specifically designed to enhance the science, technology, and innovation activities of LDCs, facilitate structural technology transformation, and help promote technology transfer. Intergovernmental commitments must turn into concrete cross-agency programs with clear operational milestones on the ground to effectively translate policy into field-level action. A clear example of this transition is the Frontier Tech Leaders Program. This program serves as a bridge between the UNDP Istanbul International Centre for Private Sector in Development and the UN Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries, successfully bringing policy into practice. Turkey believes it's highly effective to centre our partnerships around specialised entities like the ICPSD. The Centre's expertise in connecting partners, engaging the private sector, and designing innovative financing methods helps mitigate risks for investors. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Türkiye. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Germany, to be followed by Burkina Faso.

Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. Germany aligns with the EU statement and highlights the following aspects. Our recent reform of German development cooperation acknowledges the particular vulnerability and opportunities of LDCs and landlocked developing countries. In our full commitment to advancing the SDGs, we have decided to strengthen our support to LDCs, also by enhancing their participation in a more inclusive, rules-based multilateral order and trading system. This commitment is reflected in our partnerships with 21 of the 32 least developed countries in Africa, a strategic priority for German development cooperation. We aim to make a difference through supporting regional economic integration and improving the conditions for sustainable trade and investment whilst emphasizing poverty reduction, food security, water security, sanitation and hygiene. To put it in the words of our Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Reem Al-Abali Radovan, at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference last week, our future depends on new partnerships and greater trust. In this spirit, we are committed to supporting the African Union in advancing the Agenda 2063 and strengthening Africa's voice in global decision-making. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Germany, and now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Burkina Faso, to be followed by Spain.

Merci, Monsieur le Président.

Thank you very much, President. As Burkina Faso, we can see that even in context of crisis, it's possible to forge ahead, but this calls for strong national leadership and a population that can embrace bold reform. Burkina Faso has taken accelerated actions to implement the SDGs and the Doha Programme of Action. As well as other measures. These initiatives stress human capital, economic sovereignty, and the structural transformation of our economies, connectivity, mobilization of national resources to better support progress, transforming our natural resources, developing strategic structures, and bolstering our energy infrastructure. We've been able to mobilize over $900,000, which shows that these kind of actions are possible. And that's enabled us to maintain growth and make further progress in key sectors such as energy, digital health, and others. Reforms have to go hand in hand with international solidarity, with renewed impetus for technology transfer and bolstering productive capacity in a way that's aligned with national priorities.

I thank the distinguished representative of Burkina Faso. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Spain. Spain will be the last speaker in this session.

Thank you.

Colleagues, Spain aligns itself with the statement made by the European Union. We welcome the fact that this year we're meeting the HLPF with a clear and action-oriented roadmap to ensure access to financing for sustainable development for least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, and middle-income countries. The Sevilla Commitment, which was agreed at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, and that was an honor for us to welcome that conference in 2025. The commitment takes up a clear commitment to meeting the diverse needs and difficulties facing particular categories of country. African countries, the least developed countries, and the landlocked developing countries. It also pays specific attention to middle-income countries, recognizing that many of those face vulnerabilities that are not only reflected in their level of income. In that regard, the Sevilla Commitment defends the fact that access to international financing shouldn't depend exclusively on income per capita. It promotes a broader access to concessional financing and other instruments.

I thank the distinguished representative of Spain, and we just heard the last speaker in this session. Unfortunately, Excellencies and distinguished delegates, due to the high interest in the topic of the discussions and also the time constraint, it was not possible to hear from all those delegations wishing to intervene. Still, if the delegations who couldn't speak wish to send their statements, they can do so to the eStatement@un.org. There are 12 delegations and organizations who couldn't speak in this session. I once again, I thank the moderator and Ambassador for expertly guiding this discussion. I also would like to thank our excellent panelists for your insight and substantive presentations. I'm also grateful to all our distinguished speakers and participants for your valuable contributions to this very important session. With this, we will take a short pause to allow the podium to be rearranged, and please remain seated. We'll start the another sessions soon. Thank you.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, because already, already time.

Excellencies, colleagues, could you please take a seat? Excellencies, distinguished delegates, we shall now hold the second interactive panel discussions on middle-income countries. Over recent decades, many middle-income countries have achieved substantial economic and social progress. These gains, however, remain uneven and in many cases fragile. Middle-income countries are still home to 62% of the world's poor. And many remain highly vulnerable to economic, environmental, and external shocks. These vulnerabilities are intensifying amid growing geopolitical fragmentations, rapid technological change, and worsening climate crisis. I am pleased to welcome our guest speaker as well as our moderator, His Excellency Enrique Manalo, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations and Chair of the Like-Minded Group of the Countries Supporters of Middle-Income Countries. With this, I now hand over the conduct of the discussion to the moderator, Ambassador Manalo.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. It is my pleasure to moderate this morning's discussion on accelerating SDG achievement in middle-income countries. Despite significant development gains, many middle-income countries continue to face persistent structural challenges from financing gaps and growing debt burdens to climate vulnerabilities, technological divides, as well as limited access to concessional resources. Recognizing these challenges, the Secretary-General has recommended the development of a strategic plan of action for middle-income countries. While the General Assembly, in its Resolution 80/149, mandated consultations with member states and the UN system and other stakeholders to advance this important work. Today's discussion gives us a timely opportunity to reflect on the progress made thus far, identify practical priorities, and consider how the Strategic Plan of Action can become an effective framework for accelerating SDG implementation in middle-income countries. Permit me now to make just some brief remarks on behalf of the like-minded group for Middle Income Countries, or LMG MICS. First, throughout the past segments on MICS in the HLPF, we have examined the specific challenges facing middle income countries as well as explored possible solutions to address the middle income trap. Secondly, the LMG MICS have always been at the forefront of highlighting the circumstances and interests of middle income countries with respect to the UN's development agenda. So we're glad to continue this effort in this segment at this year's HLPF. Through the Makati Declaration, which was adopted at the High-Level Conference of Middle-Income Countries in Manila last year, we identified strategic priorities in charting our transition pathways. Fourthly, we uphold the interlinkages of the SDGs and pay particular importance to financing for development, going beyond GDP, debt sustainability, climate action and finance, digital transformation and SDI, gender equality, decent work and social protection. We also reaffirm the importance of South-South and triangular cooperation. These strategic priorities must be advanced on all fronts through a UN system-wide response plan, through reforms of the IFIs that consider MICC beyond their GDPs and through a strategic plan of action for concrete and wider international support and cooperation. We also appreciate the support of UNDESA, which continues to extend such support to MICC. We will continue to ensure that the MICC agenda will be reflected in the ongoing future processes in the UN, such as the UNAT Initiative. Finally, MICS require global support in charting long-term solutions to their unique and specific challenges. Together, let us work on the pathways for MICS to continue their development journey and accelerate their SDG achievement. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, let us now proceed to our panelists. Again to remind our panelists of their 5-minute allowance for speaking. So let me turn now to our first panelist, the Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, Madam Armida Salcia-Alciabana.

Mr. President, Mr. Moderator, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, middle-income countries are at the heart of the 2030 Agenda. Their success or failure will largely determine whether we achieve the SDGs. This is particularly true in Asia and the Pacific. The region is home to 38 middle-income countries representing the majority of its population and economy. Their development trajectory will shape not only regional progress, but also global SDG outcomes. Despite decades of remarkable development gains, progress towards the SDGs is not moving at the pace required. The Asia-Pacific region is on track to achieve only 14 of the 117 measurable SDG progress, or nearly 90% of the targets are off track. This is not simply the result of recent crisis. It reflects the convergence of multiple interconnected challenges that are becoming more pronounced in an increasingly uncertain and fragmented global environment. One major constraint is the persistent— —people and women. Economic diversification remains incomplete, with some countries still heavily dependent on primary commodities or a narrow range of exports. At the same time, depletion of natural resources and environmental degradation are placing growing pressure on development. Many countries must balance the demands of economic growth with the urgent need to manage water, land, energy, and ecosystems more sustainably. These challenges increasingly reinforce one another, creating a cycle that is becoming harder to break. Debt pressure clearly also illustrates this vicious cycle, which is again an emerging challenge faced by middle-income countries in our region. Across the Asian Pacific, 4 out of 5 middle-income countries have seen their public debt interest burdens increase since the pandemic. A growing share of public revenue is now devoted to debt servicing, leaving fewer resources for education, healthcare, infrastructure, social protection, and climate action. Persistent inequality presents another equally pressing challenge. Economic growth in many middle-income countries has not translated into equal opportunities for all. Behind these numbers are unequal opportunities, lack of access to quality education, healthcare, decent work, digital technologies, and social protection. These disparities reduce productivity, constrain social mobility, and weaken the foundation of inclusive and resilient —development. These realities remind us that many of these vulnerabilities remain invisible in the way development is measured. This brings us to another important issue, which is income classification alone no longer captures the realities facing middle-income countries. Per capita income tells us very little about climate exposure, disaster risk, inequality, or several other structural issues. Many countries graduate to middle-income status while continuing to face severe vulnerabilities and widening financing gaps. As a result, there is often a growing mismatch between countries' development needs and the international support available to them. Taken together, these realities reveal a common pattern: middle-income countries are no longer confronting isolated challenges. They are navigating multiple interconnected pressures that reinforce one another, narrow policy space, and slow progress across the SDGs. Addressing the issues calls for a more integrated approach to development, the approach that brings together economic transformation, climate resilience, social inclusion, and sustainable financing, to help middle-income countries accelerate progress towards the SDGs. Thank you very much.

I thank the Executive Secretary for her insights on the key challenges which are hindering the middle-income countries' progress towards the SDGs. Ladies and gentlemen, as early as March 2026, UN DESA conducted consultations with Member States as mandated in Resolution 80/149 on the Strategic Plan of Action for MICCS. In this regard, may I now invite Assistant Secretary-General Naveed Hanif to share the highlights of the draft summary of consultations with Member States undertaken by DESA on advancing the work towards the development of the Strategic Plan of Action for MICCS.

Thank you, Ambassador. Mr. President, I think I largely agree with the points made by the Executive Secretary, and what she has outlined is not only significant for middle-income countries but also for the larger efforts to pursue sustainable development. There's a recent update on growth in middle-income countries doesn't present a very encouraging picture. The growth will slow down from 4.6% last year to 4% this year, well below the 5.6% average before the pandemic. And slower economic growth, coupled with structural vulnerabilities, risks further delaying progress in SDGs in middle-income countries. Let me share with you, and that's why the Strategic Plan of Action is critical. I wish to share with you the preliminary messages that we have received from Member States in response to the survey. First, the Strategic Plan of Action must respond to the specific development challenges of middle-income countries while recognizing their diversity. It's a big group and they are very diverse too. It should offer a menu of policy options that can be adapted to different national priorities, capacities, and development pathways while fully respecting national ownership. Second, there is broad convergence that the Strategic Plan should help middle-income countries tackle the structural barriers to sustainable development. Member States' priorities, ranging from poverty eradication, reducing inequalities, to structural transformation, economic diversification, resilience, and seizing opportunities from the green and digital transitions. Third, there is a strong call For the plan to be practical, implementation-oriented, and action-focused, not just another declaration. It should build on existing frameworks, including the 2030 Agenda, the Sabya Commitment, and the relevant regional agreements, rather than creating parallel processes. Fourth, Many Member States emphasized the importance of moving beyond GDP by strengthening multidimensional approaches to assessing development progress and vulnerabilities, helping to better inform both national policymaking and international support. Fifth, there is strong demand for more tailored means of implementation. More customized, including finance, science, technology and innovation, capacity building, technical cooperation, knowledge sharing, as well as South-South and triangular and regional cooperation. Sixth, not unexpectedly, financing and technology feature prominently throughout the consultations. Many Member States point to, in addition to these two, also point to debt vulnerabilities, constrained access to affordable long-term finance, technological divides, and the importance of assuring AI contributes to inclusive and sustainable development. Seventh, Member States also see the Plan as a shared effort with clearly defined roles for government, the UN system, international financial institutions, regional organizations, the private sector, civil society, and academia. Eighth, many have highlighted the importance of a light but effective follow-up mechanism that builds on existing reporting processes, tracks implementation, identifies gaps and allows the plan to evolve as circumstances change. These are the 8 key points that we have received so far, and these consultations are still ongoing, but they already point to a strong convergence around the need for a strategic plan of action that is practical, responsive to country needs, focus on implementation, and continues to adapt to changing circumstances. I hope today's discussion will help us further sharpen these priorities—we are looking forward to your guidance—and identify practical elements that can inform the continued development of the Strategic Plan of Action. Thank you, Mr. Moderator.

Thank you very much, ASG Navid, for your comprehensive presentation. And I also wish to thank again UNDESA for its continued work and support in advancing the MiKs agenda. Ladies and gentlemen, within the LMG MiKs, an informal working group has taken the lead in coordinating work on the Strategic Plan of Action with Armenia as its coordinator. So in this regard, I would like to invite the Permanent Representative of Armenia, Ambassador Payur Hanisyan, to speak especially on the topic of how we can ensure that the Strategic Plan of Action is aligned with national development priorities and strategies. Ambassador.

Thank you, Ambassador. I thank DESA for its work in facilitating the consultations. And advancing discussion on Strategic Plan of Action for Middle-Income Countries. I also wish to acknowledge the valuable contributions made by member states and stakeholders through the process and commend the Philippines' leadership of the mix group, Ambassador Manalo. The equation before us is fundamental. If the strategic plan is to make a meaningful contribution to accelerating implementation of the 2030 Agenda, in middle-income countries, it must be firmly anchored in national realities, priorities, and ownership. In our view, this is not simply one principle, but rather the foundation upon which the entire exercise must rest. Middle-income countries are extraordinarily diverse. They differ in geography, economic structure, institutional capacity, development trajectories. Many face climate risks, connectivity constraints, debt pressures, and productive transformation issues. The others persist in inequalities despite significant development progress. What unites all those countries is not a common development model but a common reality. Income alone does not fully reflect development needs, vulnerabilities, or capacities. This is precisely why the strategic plan should not seek to prescribe a single pathway for development, nor should it create new layers of reporting or parallel frameworks. Rather, it should serve as an enabling framework that helps countries pursue their own development strategies more effectively. It should be action-oriented instrument focused on practical implementation. And measurable support at the country level. In practical terms, I would offer 4 recommendations. First, the strategic plan should be country-driven. National development plans, strategies, and priorities must remain the primary point. The strategic plan should support the implementation, not redefine them. Armenia's experience reinforces the importance of nationally owned development strategies backed by effective international partnership. Accordingly, support from the United Nations system and the broader international community should respond to nationally identified circumstances while remaining flexible as development challenges evolve. Second, strategic plan should be grounded in a multidimensional understanding of development. Many, many middle-income countries continue to face structural vulnerabilities that are not captured by income-based classifications. These include exposure to economic shocks, climate risk, debt, limited fiscal space, infrastructure gaps. In the Strategic Plan— if the Strategic Plan is to align support with national priorities, it must must begin with an accurate understanding of countries' realities. This is why the ongoing discussion on measures that complement or go beyond GDP is particularly relevant. Better metrics can help ensure that support is directed where it is most needed and that development progress is assessed more comprehensively. Third, the strategic plan should strengthen implementation, not duplication. We already have a rich Architecture of global commitments, 2030 Agenda, Addis Ababa Action Agenda, Sevilla Commitment, Climate Biodiversity Framework, etc. The value of the strategic plan lies not in creating new commitments but in helping translate existing commitment into practical support for middle-income countries. In this regard, the strategic plan can serve as a bridge between global frameworks and national implementation by helping align policies, partnerships, and means of implementation around those priorities. Fourth, the strategic plan should help mobilize the means of implementation required for countries to achieve their objectives. Throughout the consultation, a recurring message has been clear. Many MIGs have a growing gap between development needs and available resources. Development strategies cannot succeed without predictable and adequate financing. Nor can countries achieve sustainable transformation without access to technology, innovation, capacity building, and strong partnerships. The plan should therefore help promote a more coherent response from the international community, including the UN system, financial institutions, multilateral development banks, and others. Dear colleagues, the consultations conducted so far have demonstrated broad convergence on a central idea: middle-income countries do not need a one-size-fits-all framework. They need a framework that recognizes their diversity, supports their national priorities, helps address structural barriers that continue to impede sustainable development. If we remain guided by these principles, The Strategic Plan of Action can become an important instrument for accelerating SDG implementation, strengthening international cooperation, and ensuring that middle-income countries are fully equipped to advance their development aspirations. I thank you.

I thank Ambassador Hovhannisyan for his presentation. Before concluding our panel discussion, I would like to invite each of our speakers to briefly respond to one overarching question, namely, in your view, what is the most important mechanism to support effective implementation of the SPOA? Perhaps we can begin first with Executive Secretary Ali Javanna, followed by ASG Hanif, and then Ambassador Hovhannisyan.

Yes, Mr. Moderator. In my view, the most important mechanism to support effective implementation of the SPOA would be that both country-driven as well as regionally anchored, in which country ownership is obviously fundamental, in which every middle-income country faces a unique unique set of challenges as well as national context circumstances. Therefore, the strategic plan of action should therefore support national priorities as well as development strategies rather than apply a one-size-fits-for-all approach. At the same time, we also understand that many of the challenges that confront middle-income countries extend beyond national borders. Again, namely such as climate change, disaster, trade connectivity, digital, and financing, which are cross-border in nature that requires also regional cooperation, regional solutions. This is where regional cooperation becomes indispensable. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Madam Executive Secretary. Perhaps I can give the floor now to ASG Hande.

Thank you, Ambassador. I think first and foremost, and previous speakers have mentioned, the needs are very diverse. For SPO to succeed, we should be able to clearly define the needs of a country. There should be no one-size-fits-all. I agree with the Armenian PR. So that's primary— define the needs clearly and estimates of financial requirement, technological, and capacity building. Second, then define the best possible policy frameworks and channels of support. They will also differ depending on the country's needs, location, and its constraints. That's second most important element. Third, and that's where national policymaking and global should come together to look at the gaps, duplication, and frag— actually fragmentation remains a— key challenge when it comes to pursuing SDGs as a systems shift. We have seen that repeatedly at the national level and global level, we have not shifted the systems the way they were supposed to shift after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda. So that's third point, shift the systems nationally and globally. And fourth, and I have mentioned that also, the survey is communicating to us Evaluation, monitoring— don't duplicate, but deploy tools and measurements that are relevant to middle-income countries' development measurement and reporting. And lastly, I cannot overemphasize stronger integration and coordination nationally and globally. UN system has to come together to support the agenda beyond sectoral approaches. Middle-income countries really need that kind of intervention, where one intervention impacts on more than 3 to 4 goals to accelerate implementation. Thank you, Ambassador. Thank you, ASG Hanif.

And now I call on Ambassador Hovhannesian.

Thank you, Ambassador. I'll be very brief on this. Just to reiterate, the most important mechanism is a strong country-driven follow-up and review framework that ensures the strategic plan remains aligned with national priorities while mobilizing tailored support from the UN system, international financial institutions, and development partners. In other words, implementation must remain nationally led and internationally supported. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Ambassador. Ladies and gentlemen, let me now proceed to call on the lead discussant for this session, Ms. Andresa Pellianda, board member, Latin American Campaign for the Right to Education.

Distinguished Chair, moderator, member states all. The numbers are unequivocal. Middle-income countries hold most of the global population, around half of economic output, yet hosts more than 60% of the world's poor. This reveals our first truth and panel consensus: a middle-income country economy does not mean a middle-development society. Brazil, my country, is a stark example: the 10th largest economy yet ranking 5th in inequality. These fractures in many of our MIC countries, such as Argentina, South Africa, Philippines, and others, are rooted in class, race, gender, and territory and are worsened by debt servicing. We need automatic standstill mechanisms, fair burden sharing, and broader eligibility for MICs relying on private capital. OPEC criteria have cost African countries up to $75 billion funds that could finance homes, schools, hospitals, and climate resilience. This leads to an inescapable conclusion: GDP fails to capture mixed realities, as just stated by our panelists. It is poverty in rights that defines underdevelopment. If people produce the economy, the economy must serve people and the planet. We need a new paradigm integrating economic, social, and environmental dimensions. MIGs have a dual role: first, overcome their own predatory patterns, and two, offer solutions rooted in our diverse experience and traditional knowledge. Domestic fiscal justice is the first frontier. MICs can no longer be mere recipients of policies designed elsewhere. We are central actors in renewing truly inclusive multilateralism. Finally, as we all know that the right to education is the great equalizer, yet public spending on education is decreasing. MICs must prioritize education in national plans ensuring financing, teacher valorization, and access and quality for all. Excellencies, the challenges are immense but surmountable. To developed countries, take the helm of a decolonial agenda. In less than one month, this place will host the negotiations for UN tax cooperation. Reform the financial architecture, expand concessional finance, Transfer technology and end debt-driven austerity. Cancel unsustainable debts. To middle-income countries, demand our place at the table while doing our homework: overcoming inequalities through fair tax systems, fighting discrimination, and investing in our people and planet, especially through education. Together, let us measure development not by economic size, but by the quality of life, guarantee rights, and planetary sustainability. Thank you.

I thank Ms. Andressa for her remarks. Ladies and gentlemen, before we conclude, let me first express my sincere appreciation to our distinguished panelists and our lead Cusack for their very insightful and forward-looking presentations. Allow me just to highlight a few messages which I believe emerged from their presentations. First, middle-income countries, no matter how diverse, share common structural challenges and strategic development priorities which can be addressed by— and pursued by working more closely at the national and international level. I might even add regional. Secondly, a strategic plan of action for MICCs can catalyze these common challenges and priorities and can serve as basis for cooperation among MICCs with other groups of countries also in special situations with whom we share similar vulnerabilities such as LDCs, SIDS, LLDCs, and also with development partners and relevant stakeholders. Finally, there is a need for targeted support and tailored approaches in addressing the middle-income trap, and an SPOA can serve as a blueprint to accelerate SDG achievement in the mix. With this, I wish to thank again all our speakers and participants, and I now give the floor back to the President. Thank you.

I thank the moderators, Ambassador Manalu, for conducting Thank you very much for conducting this panel discussion. Excellencies and distinguished delegates, we will now proceed to the interactive discussion. Delegations wishing to intervene are invited to request the floor by pressing the microphone button now. I also take the opportunity to remind participants that the time limit for the interventions allotted from the floor is 3 minutes for the group and 1.5 minutes for the national statement. Please bear in mind that the time limit may be— may need to be adjusted sometimes depending on the number of the requests 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. I apologize in advance if speakers are cut off. This measure is being taken to ensure that all speakers can deliver their statements in the time— limited time available for the discussions. To ensure proper interpretations, Delegations are asked to speak at a normal pace and to provide a written copy of their statement by email to eStatement@un.org. I first would like to invite the ministerial respondent, Mr. Hugo Allan Garcia Monterrosa, Under-Secretary for Strategic Development Analysis at the Secretariat of Planning and Programming of the Presidency of Guatemala.

Señor Presidente, Chair, delegations, Guatemala incarnates the structural paradox of middle-income countries. Our economy grew by 4.1% in 2025. And yet 56% of our population continues to live in poverty. We're a middle-income country with, uh, social gaps, uh, that are sometimes akin to those of a least developed country, which shows that the Global Strategic Plan needs to be adjusted to national realities and to the vulnerabilities that really exist in middle-income countries. Accelerating the 2030 Agenda means that we need to close these pressing gaps in financing. We've taken internal fiscal measures that have been of strategic importance for rural areas and to develop social protection. We're investing to the limit of our capacity, but sovereign Debt doesn't substitute concessional financing to accelerate progress without reduplicating work. As we've been saying here, we need to undertake multi-sectoral actions, which we've been doing through our Khartoum Plan with a territorial approach. We've been harnessing data to mobilize our institutions. We've been trying to generate precise data so that we can measure development beyond just looking at GDP. Overcoming the trap of being a middle-income country calls upon us all to take action, and strategic plans can be a bridge towards mobilization of effective resources and abandoning the sole focus on, uh, income or GDP, because that sometimes leaves inequalities invisible. We focused on 3 key accelerators. First of all, concessional financing based on vulnerabilities, not on statistical averages. Secondly, effective access to technology, innovation, and knowledge that's adapted to different territories so that we can close development gaps. And thirdly, data governance mechanisms to precisely identify where resources are really needed. The 2030 Agenda will not speed up if we use the methods of the past alone. We need to develop new policies so that we can use statistics as a true bridge to these actions that will ensure that nobody is left behind. Thank you.

I thank the Under-Secretary for Strategic Development Analysis at the Secretariat Planning and Programming of the Presidency of Guatemala. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Lesotho, to be followed by Lebanon.

Thank you, Mr. President. Lesotho is both an LDC and LLDC. However, she has made progress, a lot of progress towards implementation of Agenda 2030, especially on SDG Africa politics.

Currently, more than 75% of the entire population has access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation. Moreover, ensuring that even the neighboring states continue to have sustainable clean drinking water, tapping from the Southern Africa Water Tower, which is the mountain kingdom of Lesotho.

We thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Lesotho. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Lebanon, to be followed by Morocco.

Mr. President, Lebanon welcomes this high-end discussion on middle-income countries. Lebanon's experience reflects that reality faced by many middle-income countries today. Classified as middle-income economy, Lebanon has endured unprecedented convergence of multiple crises, including a financial crisis, a latest large-scale displacement, and the devastating consequences of the recent war. These challenges have severely constrained our fiscal space and our capacity to invest in sustainable development. Our experiences demonstrate that income alone is no longer an adequate measure of development needs or vulnerability. Middle-income countries affected by conflicts, economic shocks, or climate-related crisis often face declining fiscal space, rising debt burdens, and limited access to concessional finance precisely when development support is most urgently needed. This is the paradox of the middle-income trap. In this regard, Lebanon, member of the like-minded Group for Middle-Income Countries, welcomes the ongoing discussions and the work towards a strategic plan of action for middle-income countries, which should provide a coherent framework to address specific needs and structural challenges of middle-income countries while promoting country ownership and nationally determined priorities. The plan should also leverage South-Southern Triangle cooperation, strengthen technology transfer, sustainable industrialization, innovation, and capacity building as key drivers for resilience and sustainability.

I thank the distinguished representative of Lebanon. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Morocco. Morocco, to be followed by Namibia.

Mr. President, Morocco welcomes the convening of this session on middle-income countries, and we see this as an important step towards shaping a strategic plan of action for middle-income countries. A word of thanks and appreciation to UN DESA for their support in this process. We are encouraged by the momentum generated today, building on the Rabat Declaration on Middle-Income Countries adopted in 2024 and the Makati Declaration adopted in the Philippines in April 2025. This process should lead to a framework that is led by middle-income countries and responsive to their realities. Allow me to share the following priorities. First, the international financial architecture must better reflect the vulnerabilities of MICs, including through metrics that go beyond GDP. Two, we agree that the strategic plan should, should build on existing commitments and remain focused and action-oriented. Third, South-South and triangular cooperation should be recognized as a central pillar, supported by a dedicated financing mechanism. Fourth, tailored support from the UN development system and stronger coordination with international financial institutions, regional economic commissions, and the private sector will be essential to maximize the impact of the strategic plan and identify a stronger follow-up mechanism of implementation. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Morocco. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Namibia, to be followed by IAEA.

Mr. President, Namibia recognizes that many middle-income countries continue to face a development paradox where income classification often conceals persistent inequality unemployment, climate vulnerability, and infrastructure financing gaps. Namibia's recent classification demonstrates that income alone does not fully reflect development realities. We therefore support a more multidimensional approach to development and access to finance that better captures structural vulnerability for African countries. LDCs, LLDCs, and middle-income countries. Translating global commitment into tangible outcome requires predictable financing, affordable access to technology, and strengthening capacity building. The international community should accelerate implementation of the SDG stimulus, reform the international financial architecture, and expand access to concessional finance for countries facing growing debt and climate vulnerability. Regional cooperation remains indispensable, and through the African Continental Free Trade Area and regional infrastructure initiatives, Namibia is investing in transport corridors, logistics, renewable energy, and digital connectivity to unlock

I thank the distinguished representative of Namibia.

Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of International Atomic Energy Agency, to be followed by Vietnam.

Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. The IAEA works with middle-income countries across multiple sectors under its flagship initiatives, which are targeted measures for effective results. Through the Rays of Hope initiative, we are expanding access to lifesaving cancer care where it is most needed in low and middle-income countries. Through the Atoms for Food initiative, we are helping countries build more resilient agri-food systems at scale. Through our nuclear energy programs, we are supporting countries considering or expanding nuclear power, including through capacity building review missions and workshops based on the IAEA milestone approach. For Africa, for instance, Egypt is building a 4-unit nuclear power plant with its first unit expected to become operational in 2028. More than 20 African countries are exploring the potential of nuclear energy, including Algeria, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, and Zambia. We continue to support—

I thank the distinguished representative of IAEA. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Vietnam, to be followed by Philippines.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just days ago, Vietnam reached an important development milestone by joining the ranks of upper middle income countries. This achievement reflects 4 decades of reform since the launch of Vietnam's Doi Moi, or renovation, during which millions have been lifted out of poverty and remarkable progress has been made in socioeconomic development. Yet many challenges remain ahead. Like many MIGS, Vietnam remains highly vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters, facing challenges of sustaining productivity growth, fostering innovation, adapting to demographic change, and avoiding the middle-income trap. To accelerate progress towards SDGs, Vietnam believes that MICC should prioritize green growth and digital transformation, strengthen resilience to global shocks, invest in human capital and innovation, and build more diversified and competitive economies. And these are also the priorities guiding Vietnam's development strategy, as we enter a new stage of development. Achieving this transformation requires an enabling international environment. This means expanding access to adequate, affordable, and predictable financing alongside greater technology transfer, stronger capacity building, and enhanced South-South and triangular cooperation. And as discussions on the SPOA move forward, Vietnam supports an action-oriented framework.

I thank the distinguished representative of Vietnam. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Philippines, to be followed by Belarus.

Thank you, Mr. President. The Philippines recently attained upper middle income status. This milestone reflects sustained economic reforms, sound macroeconomic fundamentals, and our commitment to inclusive and sustainable development. Yet it also reminds us that income classification is not the end of the development journey. As the Secretary-General has noted and the panelists highlighted, many middle-income countries remain vulnerable to prolonged stagnation and the middle-income trap. Economic progress alone does not shield countries from climate shocks, debt burdens, and widening inequalities. These challenges continue to constrain our ability to achieve the SDGs. Ultimately, the success of the 2030 Agenda depends on a large extent on the success of MICS. Development cooperation must therefore evolve. We support efforts to move beyond income-based metrics and significantly improve access to concessional financing, technology, capacity building, and investments for MICS. A more responsive international financial architecture is needed so that MiCCS can build up our resilience and productive capacity and promote sustainable growth. For the Philippines, as a climate-vulnerable nation, climate vulnerability continues to threaten hard-earned development gains. In conclusion, we welcome ongoing elaboration of the strategic plan of action for MiCCS, which should provide a coherent system-wide framework. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Philippines. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Belarus, to be followed by Asia-Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism.

Thank you, Mr. President. Given the contemporary global crises and geopolitical conflicts, MICS are compelled to bear the burden of a whole set of structural challenges. These are the destruction of supply chains, mounting inequality, demographic problems, UCMs, etc. The 2030 Agenda and other existing global framework programs for development, of course, contain provisions on middle-income countries, but they are put in the most general possible terms. We thus support the implementation of the Secretary-General's mandate to hold consultations with a broad range of stakeholders on the plan of action, which is important— an important step toward a comprehensive, inclusive, and flexible system to support MICC at the global level. This strategic plan should be made more specific and ensure systematic implementation of important matters such as acknowledging the diversity structural vulnerabilities and particular development problems of mix, including— we also need to depart from the simplified classification system that's based only on GDP. We also have a strong interest in receiving the results of what is already existing, the mandate on the implementation of interagency systemic cooperation to mount a plan of response for middle-income countries.

Thank you. Distinguished Representative of Belarus. Now I give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of Asia-Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanisms, to be followed by Indonesia and Botswana.

Thank you, Chair. While it is true that middle-income countries across Asia-Pacific have made important economic social gains, these gains remain uneven and increasingly fragile. Income classification alone no longer reflects the realities on the ground. These are not isolated national challenges but are structural characteristics across many middle-income countries in our region and slowing down the progress towards Sustainable Development Goals. As we develop the strategic plan of national Strategic Plan of Action for Middle-Income Countries, we believe it should focus on 3 priorities. First, strengthen resilience through inclusive economic and structural transformation. This means boosting public investment in decent work, universal social protection, quality public service, supporting MSMEs and the informal economy where millions of workers, particularly women, continue to contribute significantly to the national economies and regional value chains. Second, expand policy and fiscal spaces for sustainable development. Middle-income countries require more equitable access to development finance, affordable climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity building. Addressing debt vulnerability is also essential to enable public investment in climate resilience, human development, and the SDGs. Third, strengthen accountability and meaningful engagement of right holders, holders The strategic plan should promote stronger national statistical system, greater use of disaggregated citizen-generated data, and institutionalization of—

I thank the distinguished representative of Asia-Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Indonesia.

For Indonesia, the strategic plan of Action for middle-income countries should be built on four priorities.

First, support should go beyond income per capita and reflect vulnerability, inequality, fiscal stress, and exposure to climate and disaster risk.

Second, financing must be affordable, predictable, and aligned with national-owned development pathways, including climate-compatible growth and just transitions. Third, cooperation must strengthen productive capacity. MIC needs greater support for skill development, technology transfer, digital infrastructure, industrial upgrading, and further integration into regional and global value chains. Fourth, MICs must also recognize as partners and providers of practical solutions, including through South-South and triangular cooperation.

Indonesia stands ready to share experience in transformation, downstream industrialization, innovative financing, and localization of SDGs as part of this collective effort. Thank you, Excellency.

I thank the distinguished representative of Indonesia. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Botswana, to be followed by Peru. Thank you.

President, the Republic of Botswana presents that it is true that many middle-income countries continue to face structural constraints including persistent inequality, youth unemployment, limited economic diversification, climate vulnerability, constrained fiscal space, yet exposure to external economic shocks is not linear or uniform. For Botswana and possibly upper— other upper-middle-income countries, These multidimensional pressures demonstrate that income per capita alone is not an adequate measure of development needs or resilience. Botswana considers that the Strategic Plan of Action for Middle Income Countries should be tweaked to provide a practical and action-oriented framework for addressing these challenges. Strengthened support aligned with structural vulnerabilities rather than income classification would enhance Botswana's resilience and help accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda. Finally, drawing on the Pact for Future and the Sevilla Commitment, the plan should be to promote differentiated country-led and needs-based support with improved access to affordable and predictable financing. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Botswana. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Peru, to be followed by FEO.

Muchas gracias. Thank you very much, Chair. Peru welcomes the convening of this session and has 3 messages to convey. First of all, middle-income countries don't just face a challenge around income, but rather one around vulnerability. GDP is an insufficient measure of development. Vulnerabilities of a structural nature such as the debt burden, climate change, and so on continues to put the brakes on our development. Secondly, the strategic action plan should be action-oriented. It should give rise to concrete actions that brings differentiated support from the international community, adequate conditions, better participation in technology transfer, strengthening capacity, and better integration into regional and global value chains. Finally, we welcome the ongoing work around measures of progress that go beyond GDP as part of that process. We need metrics, but also they need to turn into better policies, fairer access for countries facing development challenges which are not only measured by GDP. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Peru. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of FAO, to be followed by Chile.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Excellencies, FAO endeavors to provide targeted, evidence-based, and bespoke solutions to our members, particularly those most vulnerable. To assist them in combating hunger, food insecurity, and all forms of malnutrition, reducing poverty and inequalities while also contributing to other development outcomes. This approach is at the core of our flagship Hand in Hand initiative, where nearly half of the 85 participating countries are in Africa, almost half are LDCs, and a little over one-fourth are LLDCs. Moreover, many of them also participate in regional initiatives focused on cross-border issues, including water and clean energies. Members gather annually in Rome at the Hand in Hand Investment Forum to showcase their agri-food investment plans for territories within countries with the highest need and the most agriculture potential identified through geospatial modeling and analytics to partners, including international financial institutions to private sector. Last year, LDCs such as Bangladesh, Djibouti, and Yemen mobilized $543 million, $86 million, and $200 million, respectively, Hand in Hand offers a small glimpse into one of many FAO initiatives aimed to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals through efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems transformation for—

I thank the distinguished representative of FAO. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Chile, to be followed by Kostari.

Gracias, señor presidente.

Thank you, Chair, and thank you to the moderator and the panelists for their presentations. As a middle-income country, Chile welcomes this forum for discussion and in which we can make progress to— as middle-income countries. We think that we're increasing our knowledge of the fact that although middle-income countries have made significant steps forward, many of us continue to face persistent structural challenges, and that's to a large extent despite the, the many steps that we've taken to drive our work forward. We have an opportunity here to move forward to a more exhaustive understanding of our realities, and we think it's important to recognize that there's not a single path for development. There's no universal way to achieve this. My question in this context would be how can we turn our progress, including the work on metrics beyond GDP, into medium and long-term progress so that international bodies can respond better to the needs of middle-income countries, including better access to financing and cooperation? I think that's a very important question to ask if we're to bolster our access to those modes of financing. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Chile. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Costa Rica, to be followed by United Republic of Tanzania.

Gracias, señor presidente. Thank you, Chair. GDP no longer reflects the, the reality of middle-income countries where 75% of the global population lives and 62% of those living in poverty. Although Costa Rica was recently reclassified as a high-income country, we continue to face structural challenges such as rising debt levels, exposure to climate change, and increasingly limited access to concessional financing. Strategic Action Plan for Middle Income Countries needs to lead to concrete action. And we propose 4 priorities: multidimensional criteria, strengthening the international financial architecture, accelerated technology transfer, and consolidating an international cooperation system that strengthens national capacities and triangular and South-South cooperation. We need rules that reflect our reality, and we feel that the success of the Strategic Action Plan will be measured by its ability to translate political commitment into tangible opportunities for millions of people. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Costa Rica. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Republic of Tanzania, to be followed by stakeholder group or communities discriminated by work and descent.

Thank you. Thank you, Chair. Middle-income countries are at a critical juncture. While many have achieved socioeconomic progress, the gains remain uneven and increasingly exposed to multiple shocks such as climate change and geopolitical conflicts. For Tanzania, now transitioning within the lower-middle-income category, This reality resonates strongly. Mr. Chair, we now need to recalibrate the international cooperation from graduation-based approaches to vulnerability and resilience-based support. Middle-income countries should be seen as heterogeneous group within— with heterogeneous challenges and needs. We stand ready to work with all partners to ensure that the Strategic Plan of Action becomes a practical instrument that accelerates SDG delivery and strengthens global economic resilience. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of United Republic of Tanzania. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of stakeholder group or communities discriminated by work and descent, to be followed by Jamaica.

Excelencias y distinguidos delegados.

Excellencies and delegates, I'm here representing youth and communities that are discriminated against, communities that have been discriminated against systematically. I'd like to speak from the region of Latin America where there are many middle-income countries and where Many, uh, people of Roma origin as well as other indigenous communities and women and children continue to face structural discrimination and systematic racism that undermines their rights, opportunities, and full participation in society. I'd like to take this opportunity to illustrate what they face with a story. Imagine someone in a small community in Brazil, a child. They can't go to school because it's kilometers away. The nearest hospitals very far away and too expensive. But particularly a young person who hasn't been able to enjoy their rights for a great deal of time. They don't have access to health or education or even to running water. Do you think that progress and economic development take their needs into account? We call upon governments to recognize these communities in laws, policies, and data. We need to protect their Territories, and we need to ensure their right to water. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of stakeholder group for communities discriminated by work and descent. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Jamaica, to be followed by Colombia.

Thank you, Chair. Despite best efforts, the structural challenges facing many middle-income countries limit their ability to advance economies and societies so that no one is left behind. Jamaica has identified its structural vulnerabilities related to high debt, energy dependence, and weak economic diversification and has programmed strategies to reduce these vulnerabilities, including reducing the debt-to-GDP ratio to within 2 percentage points of the 2028 target, procurement of renewable energy over 20 years, and the pursuance of economic diversification at multiple levels. These initiatives have all been supported by international development partners and highlight the importance of the multilateral system to national development. Over the last decade, different shocks to the economy have affected progress; however, responsive and adaptive instruments have allowed the country to remain on track for achievement of key targets. Embedding adaptability in development cooperation is therefore key to reducing the inequality among states. Rigid programs cannot address the perennial challenges like hazards and geopolitical events to which some MICS are increasingly vulnerable. The innovation and process improvements from AI can bridge the development gap through increasing the scale of service delivery for government and the productivity of firms, but many developing countries are playing catch up. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Jamaica. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Colombia, to be followed by Haiti.

Gracias, señor presidente. Thank you, Chair.

For Colombia, the implementation of the SDGs and efforts made by middle-income countries call upon us to transform multilateral commitments into national policies that are supported by financing, institutional strengthening and follow-up mechanisms. It's crucial to strengthen multilateralism, ensure coherence between international and national agendas, and promote the participation of local governments, civil society, communities, academia, and the private sector. International cooperation should respond to the individual needs of countries, and we stress the importance of strengthening national capacities and exchanging experiences through South-South and triangular cooperation. We call upon countries to maintain a focus on construction that goes beyond the 2030 Agenda. We need to think about what's going to come in future. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Colombia. Now I give the floor to the distinguished Mr.

President, we're 5 years away from 2030, so these questions are particularly sensitive for Haiti. For our country, the SDGs are not abstract. They directly bear on peace, human security, access to food, education, and health, and above all, the protection of women and girls. Haiti is facing a multidimensional crisis. In this context, it would be unrealistic to move toward the SDGs as if every country has had the same point of departure, capacity, resources, and conditions for stability. For countries like Haiti, the central question is thus not, not how to accelerate the SDGs. It is to know how to lay out the minimal conditions for achievement of the SDGs. We need to tackle the SDGs— but with responsibility as well. Haiti would like for these vulnerabilities to be taken on board in financial mechanisms and cooperation mechanisms.

Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Haiti. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of United Nations University, to be followed by LGBTI stakeholder group.

Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies, colleagues. I'm honored to speak on behalf of UNU Center for Policy Research.

Governments across Africa, LDCs, LLDCs, and MICS are fiscally constrained, and that isn't changing soon. So a key question is not only how to close the financing gap, it's how to make those constrained resources work harder. That means narrowing the cooperation architecture gap that compounds the resources gap.

Global commitments are landing on national institutions coordinating across ministries, donors, and partners simultaneously, often without the delivery architecture or fiscal space to absorb them. Under these conditions, coordination itself requires capacity. This is where development diplomacy matters for acceleration. Turning commitments into delivery is a deliberative task between governments, donors, regional bodies, and the private sector over how scarce resources get sequenced and shared.

Strengthening that diplomatic layer, the relationships that align actors around a country's actual priorities, may do as much for SDG progress as any new commitments. Three things could help: invest in institutional continuity so ministries can hold the plan across budget cycles, not just project cycles; reinforcing regional coordination as core infrastructure, especially in geographies where connectivity depends on diplomacy between neighbors as much as investment within borders; and ensure context-specific means built around each country's fiscal and institutional starting point, not a template applied after the fact.

At UNUCPR, we treat policy, finance, institutions, and diplomacy as one continuous system and welcome bringing that—

I thank the distinguished representative of United Nations University. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of LGBTI Stakeholder Group, to be followed by Eunhye.

Thank you, President. I am an activist from Mongolia and I speak today on behalf of the LGBTI Stakeholder Group. Many middle-income countries have achieved remarkable progress and those achievements deserve recognition. But with fewer than 5 years remaining to achieve the 2030 Agenda, the challenge is not only to accelerate progress, it is to sustain it through political change. Many countries will experience elections and political transitions before 2030. The question is, who carries development commitments forward when governments change? For LGBTQI communities, this is not a theoretical question. We live it. Community-led organizations preserve institutional knowledge, generate evidence, build trust with communities, and continue serving those who are too —often left behind. Yet around the world, civil society faces shrinking funding, shrinking civic space, and growing distrust. This is not only a challenge for civil society, it weakens countries' own capacity to deliver on the SDGs. As member states develop the Strategic Plan for Action for Middle-Income Countries, they must recognize Exclusion as structural barriers to development and invest in communities-led organizations as equal partners. Right now, your civil society needs you. SDG needs civil society.

I thank the distinguished representative of LGBTI stakeholder group. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of UN Environment Program, to be followed by UNDRR.

African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, and middle-income countries face escalating and interconnected environmental development challenges. Pollution with poor waste management and air and water contamination, land degradation accelerating at rates above the global average in parts of Africa, Drought, floods, and storms, which are intensifying in frequency and severity. Despite contributing less than 1% of global emissions, in the case of LDCs, they collectively bear a disproportionate share of climate change impacts. Their experiences highlight the urgency of cross-sectoral solutions that integrate environment and development. At the same time, they're essential partners and key drivers in achieving the SDGs. To accelerate progress, common priorities emerge. First, scaling up climate adaptation and resilience through enhanced mobilization of resources from domestic and international sources across public and private sector, as well as international cooperation. Second, actions for resilience and sustainability, including natural resource management. Third, accelerating inclusive structural transformation through reliable and affordable for— for forms of energy, including renewables. Fourth, strengthening data systems and institutional capacity to translate commitments into actions. UNEP will continue to support African countries' LDC implementation.

I thank the distinguished representative of UNEP. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of UN Office for Disaster Risk Thank you, Mr.

President. It's a pleasure for UNDRR to join this discussion. African countries, LDCs and LLDCs, carry a disproportionate share of the world's disaster risk. Deep structural constraints are compounded by heightened exposure to disasters, and these shocks fall hardest on those least able to absorb them, eroding hard-won development gains. Middle-income countries facing specific challenges also need special attention and support to augment domestic resources and capabilities to build resilience at scale. With fewer than 5 years to 2030, we wish to highlight 3 priorities. First, anchoring in risk-informed development by mainstreaming resilience into planning and investments. Second, strengthening access to risk data and early warning systems to reach universal coverage. Third, scaling up finance for resilience through innovative means, including blended instruments that mobilize private capital. UNDRR stands ready to work with African countries, the LDCs, LLDCs, MICs, and UNOHRLS to ensure that no country is left exposed to preventable disaster losses.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of UNDRR. Excellencies and distinguished delegates, we have just heard from the last speaker on the list. With this, I will now give the floor back to the moderator to hear the concluding reflections also from the panelists. Thank you very much, Mr.

President. I thank all delegations for their remarks. I understand that ASG Navid would like to to make some remarks on today's discussion as well as the interactive discussion.

Thank you, Ambassador, and on behalf of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, I want to thank member states for very useful discussion today. This has not only reinforced the points I summarized, the responses to our survey, but also given us additional information in developing the SPOA. For instance, the question of policy space was repeatedly mentioned in different forms, that the middle-income countries should be given space to define their needs, their priorities, national goals aligned with the SDGs, and those should be supported. Second point is customized support, repeatedly mentioned,— do not give us one-size-fits-all support. Third means of implementation: finance, technology, and allocation of finance not just based on income but resilience vulnerabilities, and that was a message repeated across the board. And lastly, monitoring, follow-up, light mechanism, but that should be put in place so that we know how the SPO is delivering results. Thank you, Mr. Moderator.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Do we have a few more minutes? I don't know if any other panelists would like to add anything. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Thank you, Ambassador Manalo, for expertly moderating this very important session. I also would like to take this opportunity to thank our excellent panelists for your insights and for your comprehensive presentations on the issues facing the middle-income countries. I also would like to thank all the delegations and UN systems and stakeholders for your active participations and contributions to this session. We have thus completed our program of work for this morning, and the forum will reconvene this afternoon at 3 PM to continue with its program of work. Detailed information on the program is available on the iGOV platform and also on the HLPF website. With these excellencies, distinguished delegates, the meeting is adjourned. Thank you.