Second Committee, 10th plenary meeting - General Assembly, 80th session

The 10th meeting of the Second Committee is called to order. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, the exercise of the right of reply has been requested in accordance with rule 115 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly. I should like to remind delegations that the number of interventions in exercise of the right of reply for any delegation at a given meeting should be limited to two per item. The first intervention should be limited to five minutes and the second one to three minutes. And I would like to give the floor to the distinguished delegate of the Russian Federation.

I request to be heard.

The Russian Federation firmly rejects the empty accusations of the representative of Ukraine. We want to point something out. Issues of international peace and security, including in ICTs, fall under the purview of other bodies and structures of the UN system. We regret that Ukrainians have neglected the agenda of the Second Committee, which, as is well known, is focused in its work on development issues. we've pointed out that the Ukraine is not an active party to our joint efforts to regulate information and communication technologies. The representative of this country often at consultations and negotiations on key issues has not been present, and Ukraine's efforts in the digital realm are not constructive in terms of bridging the digital divide and the support for They're supporting the so-called IT army, and the Ukrainian authorities have mentioned this many times. Going forward, we call for them to refrain from such politicized attacks and strictly abide by the mandate of the Second Committee of the United Nations General Assembly. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished delegate of the Russian Federation. The Committee has thus concluded the joint general discussion of agenda items 15 and 20. And I wish to recall that the submission deadline for draft proposals under items 15 and 20 00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14th. Distinguished delegates, as previously announced, the committee will now resume its general debate and proceed to hear the remaining speakers on the theme for its 80th session, five years to 2030, multilateral solutions for sustainable development. I wish to remind the delegations that the time limit for national statements is seven minutes. And now, starting off our speaker list, I would like to give the floor to the distinguished Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan. Sir, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Let me begin by extending my heartfelt congratulations to His Excellency Ambassador Diba of Zambia and the other newly appointed Bureau members. I'd also like to express my deepest gratitude to His Excellency Ambassador Muhi of Bangladesh and previous Bureau members for their invaluable contributions over the past year. Japan reaffirms its commitment to engage openly and constructively in all significant discussions within the Committee. We have high expectations for the committee to achieve fruitful outcomes under your strong leadership, supported by constructive debates among the member states. In this context, we kindly request the Bureau to establish and share in advance a comprehensive schedule for resolution negotiations to facilitate smooth proceedings. Mr. Chair, amid ongoing discussions under the UN80 initiative, There is a growing demand for greater rationalization to ensure sound financial and budgetary management. Japan wishes to reiterate its position that funds should be allocated to activities that are genuinely necessary. To achieve more with less, rather than less with less, cross-cutting approaches that effectively link various UN activities towards sustainable development is necessary. In this regard, the concept of human security which focuses on individuals and contributes to securing human dignity is proving increasingly useful in guiding UN activities. From this human security perspective, Japan believes that health and education continues to be the key areas, but fields such as environment and climate change, disaster risk reduction, and science, technology, and innovation, including AI, are increasingly becoming key areas. Mr. Chair, allow me to share our thoughts on these four key areas in achieving sustainable development. First, in the face of declining aid, universal health coverage, or UHC, requires establishment of sustainable health financing and increased mobilization of domestic resources. To this end, Japan is eager to contribute with technical support to strengthening institutional and policy capacities. Alongside technology transfers on voluntary and mutually agreed terms, fostering environments that encourage continuous innovation to address challenges is crucial for strengthening health systems, including pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, with a view to the high-level meeting on pandemic preparedness planned for 2026. Second, climate-related disasters, such as unprecedented heat waves, floods, wildfires, sea level rise, and the degradation of ecosystem services are increasingly impacting essential elements for human survival, including food, water, and housing. Faced with these challenges, effective action must be taken by all countries, including those under relevant treaties, such as UNFCCC and Paris Agreement, as well as Convention on Biological Diversity. Third, This year marks 10th anniversary of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Over the past decade, the damage from disasters such as earthquakes and floods has become more severe, posing significant challenges to human lives, particularly for vulnerable countries like SEEDS and LDCs. Disaster risk reduction based on human security approach is increasingly becoming essential. and international cooperation through knowledge sharing must be strengthened. Lastly, we should keep in mind essential role of private sector participation and innovation in achieving SDGs. Promoting innovation through development and utilization of AI while mitigating its risks is a critical task facing international community in achieving sustainable development in the age of AI. Therefore, human-centered and multi-stakeholder approaches are vital in the area of science, technology, and innovation, including AI. Japan aims to contribute to efforts in eliminating digital divides, both within and between countries, and in solving diverse social challenges by building governance frameworks and ecosystems for safe, secure, and trustworthy AI, as well as fostering human resources. Mr. Chair, last year, world leaders adopted Pact for the Future. It is now crucial to translate the pact into concrete actions, taking into account the outcome of the recent conferences, such as FFD4. The 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development, TICAD 9, also contributed to the discussion on key issues. Also in view of the World Social Summit in November, Japan is committed to actively contributing to discussions aimed at achieving our shared goal of leaving no one behind. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Tunisia. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I will deliver my statement in Arabic.

At the outset, allow me to extend my warmest congratulations to His Excellency Mr. Diba, Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Gambia, for his election to chair the Second Committee. I reiterate the full support of my delegation to him and to the members of the Bureau as they go about their business. Tunisia endorses the statements of the G77 and China. delivered by the representative of Iraq, and we endorsed the statement of the African Group by the representative of Guinea-Bissau. I would like to make some additional remarks in national capacity. multifaceted cooperation is at a difficult juncture characterized by problems of development, financing and international crises. The commitments here in the Pact for the Future reiterated the need to renew our collective commitment to the principles of solidarity and common responsibility, that is, to common but differentiated responsibility. There's a dearth in financing for development. This has increased in 2024, collective urgent action is needed to marshal the funds needed to achieve the SDGs, especially in developing countries. Chair, Tunisia believes that eradication of poverty, food security, education and health for everyone, the empowerment of women and the battle against climate change are interdependent and inextricably linked objectives that have to do with the very essence of sustainable, equal development. We reiterate the need to reform the international financial architecture so that developing countries can effectively participate in defining the rules and in allocation of resources toward the priorities of development. Furthermore, we underscore the need to fight tax evasion and money laundering and to recover stolen This is the sovereign right, which is an inalienable right. In this regard, Tunisia has signed on to an initiative, Debt for Climate Action. This is because of our conviction about the usefulness in converting obligations for debt service into funding for sustainable development and climate financing. Despite efforts, developing countries are bearing the full brunt of climate change. Tunisia therefore underscores the need to separate financing of climate change mitigation from development financing and to uphold international commitments to mobilize funding $300 billion per year. As part of the green transition, in 2013, we launched a national energy transition strategy. It aims to devote 30% to renewable energies in the production of electricity by 2030 and to reduce by 40% our carbon generating sources. At the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, the President of the Republic of Tunisia declared 2025 to be the year for building multilateral action and cooperation with the United Nations by organizing a series of events. That was done in partnership with UN agencies on the questions of security, development, science, culture, and technology. in line with the results of the Summit of the Future. The right to development is an indivisible right. It's grounded in justice, equality, technology transfers, and capacity building at the national level. In this context, Tunisia is proud of the trailblazing efforts that we've taken in terms of gender equality and empowerment of girls. This is a national choice. It is embodied by advanced legislation and real practice. Tunisia, a female Tunisian was the prime minister for the second time, and women make up over 68% of researchers, a large number of people in universities, and 73% of staff in the healthcare work and social services. Tunisia ranks second at the global level in terms of women that have higher education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. My country has persisted in its support for the presence of women in the diplomatic corps. The presence of female diplomats has already exceeded the participation of men in recent years. Tunisia gives pride of place to the digital transformation. We've adopted a national strategy for artificial intelligence. following governance based in a ethical and legal integrated framework that protects the utilizers of data in line with the ITU standards and international standards. We're prioritizing the development of digital infrastructure. We've doubled the number of data centers that we have. And we've provided advanced computing power at the national level, including high performance computers, which are put to work for research and for the private sector, while ensuring the protection of personal data and intellectual property rights. We're convinced that stamping out hunger and protecting the right to life are fundamental goals of development. Nonetheless, we're profoundly disappointed. This is due to the incapacity of our organization to put to an end the ghastly human tragedy that the Palestinian people are living, resisting war, annihilation, and hunger for as long as the occupation is considered its crime in full view of the entire international humanity without any accountability. We express our condolences to people suffering in Sudan, Yemen, and other places as they seek to obtain food and adequate medication. Chair, In line with our unwavering approach, we believe that multilateralism is the best way to confront common challenges, and we think the United Nations remains the most effective framework so as to bolster international solidarity and forge a global world that is more fair, equitable, and more humane. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Tunisia. I would now like to give the floor to the distinguished Permanent Representative of Cabo Verde. Ambassador, you have the floor.

Mr. Chairman, Cabo Verde aligns itself with the statements delivered by the G77 and China, the African Group and AOSIS. Cabo Verde experiences the challenges of sustainable development on a daily basis. Our reality is shaped by distance, isolation, limited natural resources, and a high exposure to external shocks. As most islanders, however, we also show strong resilience, creativity, and determination to turn vulnerability into opportunity. Access to finance remains one of our greatest constraints. The label "middle-income country" doesn't reflect our structural vulnerabilities. In recent years, we acquired experience with debt swaps for climate action, proving that smart and innovative financial engineering can unlock new possibilities for investment in resilience. But we need more. Accessible, predictable, and fit-for-seeds mechanisms built on criteria that go beyond GDP per capita. It is essential to operationalize the MVI and the loss and damage fund. The sea is both our main asset and main vulnerability. Our maritime area is more than 100 times larger than our land territory. Cabo Verde has embraced sustainable practices, from regulated artisanal fisheries and marine protected areas to sustainable tourism initiatives. For the blue economy to thrive, we need science-based approaches, capacity building, and long-term partnerships. Short-term projects are welcome, but not enough. We must invest in knowledge, technology, and innovation. owned, driven, and sustained by our own communities. Cap Vert is proud of its progress in renewable area energy. We have set ambitious targets and already surpassed 20% renewables in our energy mix. But challenges remain. High energy costs continue to burden both households and businesses.

For us,

Just transition means affordable clean energy and decent jobs for youth. We call for investment in replicable, scalable solutions that can serve as models for other SIDS and LDCs. Our country knows the impact of drought and desertification, which has driven generations to migrate.

The huge impact of

climate change, including the menacing threat of the sea level rise, is forcing many communities to migrate, not by option, but to escape the force and fury of nature. They settle in new locations, countries, regions. There's an urgent need to create conditions for these communities to do so in safe conditions and towards new opportunities. The situation is particularly severe in Africa and in SIDS countries like my own. Cabo Verde's president, an African champion union for the preservation of natural and cultural heritage, launched a call for a global pact on climate mobility last year in September. which will unite the global community in a coalition of nations

affected by climate mobility alongside major stakeholders from the global north.

In Africa, we urgently need to advance a comprehensive approach to climate mobility by aligning adaptation, protection, and opportunity, leveraging existing instruments like Agenda 2063 and the Global Compact for Migration should integrate climate mobility within broader development goals.

To face a holistic approach,

Cabo Verde's government is consolidating a climate governance framework, which created an inter-ministerial council for climate action, a national council and a national secretariat both for environment and climate action. Civil society and private sector's participation happened through the Citizen and Climate Forum. We have a climate portal, presented our first biennial transparency report, and are now finalizing our fourth national submission to the UNFCCC secretariat. chairperson, Cabo Verde experiments, learns and shares solutions.

We believe that the UN should make better use of the good practices and experiences of SIDS countries and.

Take a huge step from speeches to results and from local solutions to global policies. Cabo Verde stands ready to share its humble experience and move together with all nations and partners in a global effort to move from words to action and from vulnerability to viability. We are better together.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished permanent representative of Cabo Verde. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kuwait. You have the floor.

I thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, the ASEM would like to associate ourselves with the delegation delivered by the G77 and China. We'd also like to offer our congratulations to you, Mr. Chair, for your chairmanship of the Second Committee of the 80th session, and we wish you and the members of the Bureau continued success. We also look forward to having our deliberations translated into an active reality that would deal with the development reality and would deal with the current challenges that are affecting all states, be they developed or underdeveloped or least developed or developing. Mr. Chair, despite the fact that 10 years have passed since the SDGs were adopted, only 35% have achieved any tangible progress, whereas half of them remain behind, and 18% of these goals have receded to beyond the baseline in 2015. This is in light of the exceeding $4 trillion, the daily financing exceeding $4 trillion, and debt burdens have increased, which has prevented investing these funds in different development sectors. The climate crisis is more urgent than ever. The losses have been great as a result of natural disasters, which has led to an annual decrease of approximately 5% in the size of economies. Therefore, we call for a flexible climate financing mechanism that is easy to access, that is based on additional grants, and not simply recycling ODA and other commitments instead of actually dedicating them to their purpose. The existing financial architecture is no longer able to keep up with the current challenges. The time has come to reform it in a comprehensive and more transparent and just way that goes beyond the old Bretton Woods traditional conditions and keeps up with the modern needs of our peoples, including adopting policies including avoiding adopting policies that only increase the burden of vulnerable countries. Moreover, we must expand the circle of financing, facilitated financing in a manner that would service and serve developing states without adding additional debt. We would also like to note the need for development assistance, and we note here that we have established a Kuwaiti fund for Arab economic development in 1961. This is an embodiment of such a noble principle. This fund has contributed to funding over 1,000 projects in over 100 states. Moreover, my country's experience in being the first developing country to establish a development assistance fund, this experience shows that partnerships, and when they are based on the principles of justice and transparency, are able to create tangible developmental progress and allow for easy facilitated funding, as well as allow the allocation of resources on human for humanitarian objectives we also would like to note that we have established funding for innovation for digital Frameworks and for other such goals we cannot remain silent Mr. chair as we are all in this committee concerned with following developmental challenges therefore we cannot remain silent over what our Arab world is witnessing in terms of great violations that respect no human rights no environment and no architecture as according to to the independent food security indices, major areas in Palestine are entering a phase of famine, while hundreds of thousands are facing extreme malnutrition and hunger. The malnutrition indicators have deteriorated in a tragic manner, especially among children and the vulnerable. These conditions were not did not deteriorate because of natural disasters or climate or climate change. Rather, they are a result of a deliberate policy that is being adopted by the occupying power Israel which imposes a suffocating Siege and has closed humanitarian corridors and has stopped and has closed any means of humanitarian access in terms of closing down entire entire sources of such access. The most basic of our common principles cannot be upheld when we feel that human dignity and human life and their inalienable right to food is being sacrificed and violated. Therefore, the State of Kuwait condemns in the strongest of expressions what Israel, the occupying authority, has done in terms of starving people as a weapon of war. And we would also like to mention Security Council resolution 2417 and 2018 we condemn strongly the terrorization of unarmed civilians with the equation of either starve or surrender these are These actions violate the most basic of international humanitarian law and are a source of shame to the international community. Therefore, we call for lifting those restrictions immediately and unconditionally and guaranteeing the safe and sustainable entry of humanitarian aid with no obstacles and no selectivity, and to hold accountable all those who allow for the use who try to weaponize food so that we cannot so this situation does not turn into a sustainable and widespread situation because of international silence in closing Mr. chair we affirm we affirm that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions will be our ultimate goal and our common compass and we call for using our deliberations to achieve a just development and sustainable financing and protection for the environment moreover we must expand social security networks. We stress that the next five years are going to be important and must witness tangible and measurable achievements and not simply vague statements. I thank you, sir.

I thank the distinguished representative of Kuwait. And I would now like to give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Arab Emirates. You have the floor.

Mr. Chair, at the outset, I'd like to congratulate you on chairing the Second Committee during the 80th session of the General Assembly. The United Arab Emirates would like to associate itself with the statement delivered by the G77 and China. Mr. Chair, only five years are left for the deadline. for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in 2030. And in this important period, we, as the United Nations, must multiply our efforts to continue what we have started and to continue working together to achieve these goals by working multilaterally. Despite the fundamental changes that require awareness in our world today, we must not hesitate from adopting innovative and creative approaches to make development, because taking initiative and using modern technology to implement the sustainable development goals is what will open new horizons that will rise up to the level of the challenges. The United Arab Emirates has welcomed, nationally and at the United Nations, new and innovative ways of thinking here. We believe in the importance of increasing investment in sustainable development in light of the funding gap that is estimated at $4 trillion, which is considered the main obstacle before achieving any tangible progress here. Therefore, the value of external aid offered by the UAE over the past five years has exceeded $16 billion. And here we have adopted an innovative strategic approach that is based on expanding the scope of funding and means of delivering aid. Here we welcome the adoption of the Seville commitment, which is in line with our conviction that the free flow of trade and investment is considered one of the main engines of development. And because of our belief in the importance of continued economic aid, these commitments show our ability to achieve consensus over some innovative financial tools that would enhance the role of the private sector and develop stronger models of multilateral cooperation, as well as South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation. In addition to increased funding, we must also use modern technology and emerging technology and take advantage of them, especially AI. Recently, our country launched the AI for Development Initiative in cooperation with the Kingdom of Bhutan. This initiative shows how artificial intelligence can contribute towards improving public services and rural development, and create job opportunities for the youth and support agriculture, healthcare, financing, and education, including countries of the global south. And instead of focusing on following how each of the SDGs is stumbling, let us take advantage of this initiative as a means to accelerate turning our ambitions into reality. This includes also issues of climate change and sustainability. We do not need to renegotiate goals that have been set by science. We note the Paris Accord, which was with the UAE, whose COP 28 was hosted by the by the UAE. The time has come to focus on the implementation of this agreement. And here we would like to commend the practical efforts being made by Azerbaijan and Brazil, our partners in the troika of the presidencies of the COP of the COPs to push forward with this effort. The UAE has recently created a financing center for the green environment, for green climate, and Alterra, which is the largest private fund to finance climate action worldwide. And we have launched innovative projects within trilateral cooperation, such as the Green Investment Initiative in Africa, as well as the Rome process. These new innovative means are based on private and public sector partnerships and aim to finance renewable projects, renewable energy projects, and green energy. We believe that building sustainable future does not serve the generations of future alone, but also creates the biggest economic opportunity for the current generations. And despite all of the opportunities that are being offered by the technological revolution, they do come up against a real wall when it comes to climate issues. AI, which is considered one One of the most important modern technologies that is able to speed up innovation in confronting climate change requires the consumption of large amounts of energy and water. Therefore, there is a need to adopt an approach that would balance between taking advantage of this modern technology on the one hand and preserving what progress has been achieved in climate issues. As everybody is aware, the sixth SDG is among the goals that continue to stumble. UNESCO estimates indicate that 1.8 billion persons are currently living in countries or areas that have an absolute shortage of water. And as a partner in hosting the United Nations Water Conference in 2026, along with Senegal, The UAE hopes that this conference would constitute an important opportunity to get back on track and to mobilize group efforts to make progress on this important track. And here, we express our gratitude to the member states. We thank them for adopting the agenda of the conference by consensus, including adding a new and important item, which is investments for water. In closing, Mr. Chair, despite the current challenges, the United Arab Emirates renews its firm commitment to expanding the scope of cooperation between the countries of the South, as well as triangular cooperation, and using financing and technology and innovation to achieve tangible and comprehensive results. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United Arab Emirates, and I would like to give the floor now to the distinguished Permanent Representative of Montenegro. Excellency, you have the floor.

Montenegro aligns itself with the EU statement and would like to add a few remarks in its national capacity. The Second Committee begins its work amid multiple global challenges, including devastating armed conflicts, growing climate crisis, increasing food insecurity, and geopolitical tensions running high. During the high-level week of the 79th General Assembly, we have adopted the Pact for the Future with its annexes, and at FF14 in Spain, the Seville Compromise. As a country firmly dedicated to the principles of multilateralism, Montenegro believes that these documents are not only guidebooks, but pathfinders as well. However, the latest SDG report indicates the world is significantly off track to achieve the 2030 agenda, with only about a third of targets progressing as needed and many others stagnating or regressing. We need urgent action in six priority areas: food systems, energy, digital transformation, education, jobs and social protection, as well as climate and biodiversity, along with certain improvements to the global financial architecture to mobilize necessary investment. Dear colleagues, Montenegro has made significant progress in fulfilling its SDG agenda. On the SDG Index rank, we are 55th, with a score of over 73%. This is a result of the fact that all the SDGs are part of all of our national plans and strategies and aligned with our EU integration agenda. Even though we are on track or maintaining SDG achievement, we are aware that there's a great deal of work still ahead of us. Montenegro is grateful to the UN for all the support provided in this regard, based on the cooperation framework 2023-27. In this context, allow me to emphasize the significance of Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund. It is a pooled fund mechanism that aims to speed up the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, supported by the EU and the governments of Luxembourg, Switzerland, Montenegro, Austria and Ireland. Mr. Chair. Montenegro underlines the importance of international cooperation in addressing global environmental challenges and crises, including climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, as well as desertification, land and soil degradation, drought, and deforestation, and their impacts on health and the environment, which are further aggravated by persistent levels of poverty, inequality, and food insecurity. We remain firmly committed to the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement, and will continue to improve its actions through concrete steps rooted in our National Strategy for Sustainable Development 2030. The strategy represents long-term development orientation towards sustainable management with four key national resources: human, social, natural and economic ones. In addition to this, the government just adopted a draft law on climate change with the aim to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Montenegro also adopted the climate change adaptation plan for the period 2025-35. To further demonstrate our commitment to SDGs, Montenegro, recognized as an attractive tourist destination, is working to transform its tourist offer, develop low-carbon tourism, and promote as green destination. The goal is to contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions in tourism sector, thus significantly reducing the negative impact on the environment. In June this year, we have signed BBNJ agreement. Since it provides access to the international mechanisms for assistance, we will be able to significantly improve national capacities in marine protection and scientific research, including in development of national biodiversity strategy and action plan. The implementation of the Global Digital Compact remains key in advancing 2030 agenda. Montenegro is preparing its first national strategy on AI, and we remain fully supportive of the global dialogue on AI governance, as well as the International Scientific Panel on AI. Dear colleagues, I would like to highlight that Montenegro is ready to contribute in the area of disaster risk reduction. We have strengthened our efforts with adoption of the new strategy for DRR for 2025-2030, which aims to reduce risks, build resilience, and improve preparedness for natural and man-made disasters. Montenegro also adopted law on post-disaster recovery, which provides a robust legal foundation for improving post-disaster assistance and reconstruction procedures. This progress comes on heels of successful organization of the regional platform for DRR for Europe and Central Asia held last year in Montenegro. The meeting in preparation of the global platform for DRR assess progress on the regional roadmap for DRR, as well as capacity building to accelerate the implementation of the Sendai Framework. Excellencies. Montenegro also remains committed to the success of the World Social Summit to be held in Qatar this year, where our President will actively take part. As we mark the 80th anniversary of the UN, we must also make full use of the UN 80 process to streamline the work of the Second Committee and the agencies it oversees, leading to a more coherent and effective action on sustainable development. We stand ready to support these efforts and engage constructively in the work of the Second Committee in the coming weeks. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Montenegro, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Solomon Islands. You have the floor.

Mr. Chair, let me begin by extending my delegation's congratulations to you and the Bureau on your appointment, you have the full support of my delegation. Solomon Islands aligns itself with the statements delivered by Iraq on behalf of the G77 and China, Palau on behalf of AOSIS, and Nepal on behalf of the group of LDCs. The theme for this session is a stark reminder for all of us, as we only have five years left to fulfill the 2030 agenda. Action-oriented multilateral solutions is needed. The time is now for all of us to collectively act. Sustainable development must remain a core priority in working towards a promising future for generations to come and to leave no one behind. Mr. Chair, we are living in uncertain times. Conflicts, economic shocks, poverty, famine, geopolitical tensions, climate change, sea level rise, environmental degradation, and pollution, just to name a few, has put us all on notice to fully realize our commitment for the 2030 agenda. However, let us all be reminded that our collective action is our strength, despite the uncertainties. Mr. Chair, the 2025 SDGs progress report revealed that only 35% of the SDGs targets are on track, almost half are lagging, and 18% are regressing. Solomon Islands would like to reiterate that the Pact for the Future, adopted with GA resolution 79/1, is a collective commitment to triple charge sustainable development. We can and must deliver on this pledge. The Pacific region has lived the reality of the detrimental impacts of climate change and sea level rise, which has negatively affected sustainable development progress. Urgent collective action must be done. Access to adequate and consistent climate finance is critical to meeting the SDGs. Mr Chair, the special circumstances of LDCs and SIDS must be fully recognized. The 54th's similar commitment is a pivotal advancement for all of us. By committing to enhanced financial resources to address unique vulnerabilities, including climate change impacts, crippling high debt burdens and limited fiscal space for LDCs and SIDS. In this regard, we call for the full implementation of the Doha Programme of Action and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States. This should also be complemented by the MVI. Urgent solutions to existential vulnerabilities must be addressed. Solomon Islands would also like to reiterate that unilateral coercive measures must be discouraged, as the usage of UCMs has further stagnated and reversed sustainable development to some already vulnerable population. Mr. Chair, the Solomon Islands National Development Strategy 2016 to 2035 is the national roadmap for sustainable development in Solomon Islands. We have done our second Vienna in 2024, and the report indicated that progress is uneven and challenges still persist. To address these challenges, the Solomon Islands Government for National Unity and Transformation has implemented development policies centered on four pillars, unity and stability, economic transformation, infrastructure development, and human capital development. These priorities are supported by strategic reforms. genuine investments, climate-resilient infrastructures, and human resource development. Solomon Islands' development policies were also centered on addressing youth and women empowerment by way of job creation to address unemployment and economic opportunities for all. Furthermore, to achieve our development aspiration, we have made connectivity a top priority, Bridging the digital divide to the rural populace and improving transportation infrastructure networks throughout our sparsely scattered islands are essential for facilitating trade and connectivity. Mr Chair, we look forward to the second World Summit for Social Development to be convened in Qatar next month to deliberate towards the urgent need to address profound social challenges, especially poverty eradication and unemployment and social exclusion, and more importantly, to give turbocharged momentum towards the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. To conclude, let me assure you and the Bureau of Solomon Islands support. We look forward to working with all delegations during this second committee session to translate commitments into action. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Solomon Islands, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Philippines. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. The Philippines aligns with the statement delivered by Iraq on behalf of the G77 and China, Morocco on behalf of the Like-Minded Group for Middle Income Countries, and Malaysia on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. At the outset, we wish to congratulate you and the other members of the Bureau on your election. Rest assured of our delegation's support and cooperation. With only five years before 2030, progress on the SDGs is stalling. Inequality, conflicts, and climate instability challenge our societies and hinder their sustainable development. The international community must act with renewed purpose, rebuilding trust, reforming global systems, and reaffirming solidarity. As we commemorate 80 years of the United Nations, we must accelerate action and deliver tangible results and solutions, especially for those being left behind, responsive to today's interlinked crises. As a founding member of the United Nations, the Philippines remains deeply committed to multilateralism and international cooperation. We wish to highlight in our national capacity the following priorities at this session of the Second Committee. First, enhancing support for middle-income countries. The Philippine economy remains one of the fastest growing in Asia and the world, recording robust and broad-based growth supported by sound macroeconomic fundamentals, prudent fiscal management, and structural reforms that foster innovation and inclusivity. We are determined to attain upper-middle-income status in the near future. But our path forward illustrates the reality faced by many middle-income countries. that progress brings other challenges. We remain vulnerable to external shocks, climate impacts, and debt constraints, underscoring the need for international cooperation that recognizes and addresses the specific challenges of MICs. We therefore support a strategic program of action for middle-income countries. The Philippines hosted a high-level conference on middle-income countries in Manila earlier this year, which adopted the Makati Declaration for MICs. and we are honored to chair the like-minded group for middle income countries this year. Second, strengthening climate action and disaster resilience. The Philippines stands at the front lines of the climate crisis. However, while typhoons, floods, and droughts intensify, threatening lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems, we remain steadfast in advancing resilience and cooperative solutions. As host country of the board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, We work to ensure its inclusivity, transparency, and accountability. Most of all, we work to see that it will provide assistance to the most vulnerable, yet least responsible for the climate crisis. We commend initial pledges made, yet underscore the urgent need to scale up financing and partnerships for loss and damage. Following our hosting of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in 2024, The Philippines is working with UNDRR, ASEAN and regional partners to advance multi-hazard early warning systems, risk data sharing and risk-informed governance. Together with partners, we are supporting anticipatory action, financing models and cross-border preparedness exercises, translating the outcomes of the Sendai Framework Mid-term Review into concrete regional resilience initiatives. Third, pushing forward financing for development and development cooperation. The Philippines welcomes the Compromiso de Sevilla, adopted at the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development. We see it as a critical step forward, reaffirming the need for reform of the international financial architecture and addressing the debt and financing challenges faced by developing countries. We were proud to contribute actively to a robust outcome document, and we will work during this session to pave the way for a comprehensive follow-up process to promote its full, effective, and timely implementation. We reaffirmed the importance of development cooperation through continued international cooperation and official development assistance. We also recognize the increasingly important role of South-South and triangular cooperation as a complement to North-South cooperation. the Philippines shares its experiences and good practices in migration governance, sustainable agriculture, and renewable energy with other developing countries. Fourth, to continue the fight against poverty and hunger. The Philippines national flagship anti-poverty program has enabled hundreds of thousands of households to graduate from assistance to self-reliance, with many beneficiaries completing secondary and tertiary education. We continue to roll out our innovative No Hunger program, developed with the World Food Program, to strengthen nutrition and food security throughout the country with digital tools and approaches. We look forward to co-facilitating the resolution on implementation of the third UN Decade on the Eradication of Poverty with Chile at this session. In conclusion, Mr. Vice Chair, the United Nations at 80 has not solved the world's problems, but it remains one of the best places to tackle them and develop multilateral solutions and partnerships in financing climate action, promoting innovation, inclusion, and resilience for the sustainable development of our peoples and our planet. The Philippines stands ready to work with all delegations at this session of the Second Committee in this spirit towards these ends for our United Nations. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Philippines, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Israel. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In the days leading up to the opening of this committee, we had prepared a different statement. Following recent positive development from two days ago, we had to quickly rethink parts of it. But we were glad to take on the task. This is a tremendous moment for the people of Israel, the Palestinian people, and for our entire region. Since October 7, 2023, Israelis have been shadowed by war, a war we did not ask for and did not want. During two years of difficult war on multiple fronts, Israel as a nation has shown extraordinary strength, determination, and resilience. now, for the first time since that day, Israelis are allowing themselves a glimmer of hope and optimism for the future. Today, with the signing of the ceasefire agreement put forward by President Trump, we are filled with hope that we will very soon see the return of our hostages and optimism that our region may soon see a new era of coexistence and development. This is a spirit we tend to bring forward to this committee session. Mr. Chair, this year, Israel is honored to lead the resolution on agricultural technology for sustainable development. The resolution has been updated and adopted every two years to incorporate cutting-edge technologies and contemporary scientific research. Innovation in agriculture is essential, and our resolution highlights the need to boost production through the use of smart farming techniques. and the application of the digitalization and AI across agri-food systems, from farm to factory, from market to table, making every step more efficient and sustainable, and adding value throughout the system. Putting the latest technologies into the hands of farmers everywhere, including in remote rural areas, is a central component of the resolution to ensure we leave no one behind. Israel has seen firsthand how technology can transform challenges into opportunities. From a solution born of necessity in a semi-arid land, it has evolved into a model that supports farmers around the world. We invite all member states to join us in advancing this resolution. One of the programs we are most proud of in this regard is the agricultural internship program we offer in Israel. The program provides agricultural capacity building to young international farmers by sharing knowledge that will be later implemented in their home countries. Some 4,000 students from 30 countries take part every year in this unique 11-month internship program, which combines practical and theoretical training in the field of modern agriculture, including on-the-job training, learning by doing, with Israeli farmers who serve as the interns' mentors. This was the case for Joshua Lohito Molel, a young man from Tanzania, and Bipin Joshi, a bright 24-year-old student from Nepal. In the summer of 2023, they arrived as agricultural students to intern in Kibbutz Nachal Oz and Kibbutz Alomim, located in southern Israel. On October 7th, two years ago, they found themselves in an impossible reality when Hamas launched its brutal attack on Israel. Hamas made no distinctions, sparing no one. It is now two years later, and Hamas is still holding the body of Joshua, who was first kidnapped, and as we learned later, was then murdered. Since November 2023, there has been no sign of life from Biping, and there is a serious concern for his life. As Israel eagerly awaits the return of our sons and daughter, and for the burial of our dead, we also wait for the return of Joshua, so his family will be able to bring his body home in dignity, and for the return of Biping, so hopefully, and I do pray that this will be the case, He will be able to reunite with his family. 48 innocent hostages remain captive in Gaza. If everything goes as planned, when we'll meet here again on Monday, we will see them back home. Colleagues, the next few days are critical and will be especially sensitive. Israel has already taken steps to bring the war to an end. Many member states in our region and worldwide have shown support and reflect broad coalition for peace. Many Arab and Muslim states have already welcomed the proposal and pledged diplomatic or operational support. The reality on the ground has changed. We encourage you to utilize our discussions responsibly, to use this forum to promote development. Israel urges delegations to rise above differences and approach our work with a spirit of cooperation. Mr. Chair, on the advancement of the SDGs, Israel believes that actual sustainable development cannot exist without peace, security, and respect for human dignity. We must ensure that vital resources are allocated to support better education, strengthen public health, foster partnerships for climate action, and encourage innovation. We cannot overlook the defining challenges of our time. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution threaten the livelihood of billions. We must urgently scale up renewable energy, accelerate the decarbonization of economies, and safeguard biodiversity. Israel remains committed to doing so by sharing its expertise, technologies in science, agriculture, water management, and renewable energy, helping to strengthen both our society and communities around the world. In the upcoming work of the committee, we will also continue to promote gender equality in every sphere. Sustainable development cannot succeed if half of the humanity is excluded. We will highlight the growing importance of science, technology, and innovation, including AI. Finally, Mr. Chair, I'll end by congratulating you and the other members of the Bureau on your election. We will follow your guidance to ensure that this committee delivers a constructive and meaningful outcomes to our work. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Israel, and I now give the floor to the distinguished permanent representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Ambassador, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Let us all congratulate you and the members of the Bureau on your election. And I am confident that this meeting will achieve constructive outcome under your able leadership. Also, my delegation aligns itself with the statement made by Iraq on behalf of the G77 and China. Mr. Chair, today, our world is facing with unprecedented challenges, such as unfair international economic order, widening inequality, persistent conflict, mounting debt burden, and worsening impacts of climate change. These challenges pose serious obstacles to the efforts of developing countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Therefore, it is the responsibility of this Committee to take concrete and practical measures to overcome these challenges and foster genuine economic development. First of all, a favourable environment must be created for sustainable economic growth. As clearly enshrined in the Charter, all Member States have a legitimate right to peace and development. Social progress and economic development are unthinkable without peaceful and stable environment. Sustained economic growth can only be ensured when the use of threat of force, as well as high-handed and arbitrary practice that undermine the peace, national sovereignty, and the right to development are firmly opposed and eliminated. current unjust international economic order must be fundamentally reformed. A new order based on justice, equality, and mutual benefit should be established without further delay. The current international economic order, the legacy of the previous century, remains one of the main obstacles to independent development of developing countries. The certain developed country continued to exploit natural resources and the human potential of a developing country by leveraging their economic and technological superiority. Moreover, some developed country misused the institution, the South Asia IMF and the World Bank as instrument for interference internal affairs of others. Under this outdated and unfair international economic architecture, sustainable economic growth of developing countries with relatively weak economic power is untenable. Mr. Chair, under the leadership of Comrade Kim Jong-un, President, State Affairs of the DPRK, Our people have launched a vigorous nationwide campaign for comprehensive national economic and progress, overcoming every trial and challenges with determination and unity. In this course, significant achievement has been made across all sectors of the national economy and construction of the modern and civilized society. A five-year plan for the national economic development is now approaching its final stage, with remarkable growth recorded in the key sectors such as industry, agriculture and construction. Significant advances have also been made in education, public health, art and tourism. These achievements are fruits of the devoted and patriotic struggle of the entire Korean people, who are still fastly working to bring about a brighter future for themselves and generations to come. They also represent meaningful contributions to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals. In conclusion, delegation of the DPRK hope that this meeting will produce practical and effective solution to pressing crisis that threaten global socioeconomic development. We reaffirm our active commitment to constructive engagement and productive discussion of all agenda items before us. I thank you.

Thank the distinguished permanent representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of North Macedonia you have the floor.

Thank you Mr. chair distinguished delegates ladies and gentlemen it is a privilege to take the floor on behalf of my country in the session of the second committee Let me begin by expressing our full support for the work of this Committee, which remains essential in shaping the economic and financial agenda of the UN and in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. My country aligns with the statement delivered earlier by the EU, and in addition, we would like to make the following remarks in our national capacity. Mr. Chair, we are meeting at a crucial moment for the global community. From climate shocks and geopolitical rivalry to deepening inequalities, economic fragmentation, and mounting debt burdens, we are witnessing challenges that transcend borders and require a shared response. The multilateral efforts to implement the SDGs and address the pressing global challenges of poverty, inequality, climate change and injustice are often being considered as an impossible mission. Despite these setbacks and how impossible this mission is, we believe that a better world is possible, even if the path is difficult. As a small, landlocked, developing country in the heart of the Western Balkans, we understand all too well the need for global solidarity, regional cooperation, and effective multilateralism. Focusing on building a resilient, green, and inclusive economy, one that supports innovation, invests in people, and protects our natural environment, my country is firmly committed to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We are committed to integrating the Sustainable Development Goals into our strategic documents. Nearly two-thirds of the SDGs are linked to European Union reforms. The latest UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for the period 2016-30, which was signed recently by our foreign minister, aligns with our national development strategy for 2024-2044. We are fully committed to achieving SDGs, and our commitment is well reflected in our national development strategy that prioritizes the six transitions and megatrends to accelerate SDGs implementation. The national development strategy sets a long-term vision for sustainable and inclusive growth. It shows that even a small country can think big, act responsibly, and contribute solutions to global challenges. Mr. Chair, we believe that no region should be left behind. We urge this committee to prioritize inclusive and balanced economic recovery, particularly through investments in sustainable infrastructure, support for digital transformation and innovation, fair access to international finance, especially for small and vulnerable economies, and hence support for women and youth in the labor market. Financing for development must unite strategy, capital, and multilateral support in a coherent ecosystem, which is why the fourth UN Conference on Financing for Development and its outcome document held in Seville this past July was timely and of utmost importance. Being a responsible party of the global contract, We supported the Seville commitment on financing for development, and we will continue to work on increasing financing for sustainable development in the country and ensuring that no one is left behind. Mr. Chair, trade and regional cooperation are essential pillars of our development strategy. My country is a strong advocate of open regionalism. Through the well-employed process, the common regional market and other regional platforms in the Western Balkans, we are building bridges that connect our economies, foster innovation, and deepen trust. These efforts contribute not only to our economic prosperity, but also to peace and stability in Southeast Europe. We call on the international community to continue supporting these regional integration efforts, because regional partnerships are not a substitute for global ones, they are building blocks of effective multilateralism. In conclusion, Mr. Chair, my country stands ready to work with all member states in pursuit of the common good. We believe that development is not a privilege, but a right, and that the purpose of economic growth is to create dignity, opportunity, and sustainability for all. Let us reaffirm our commitment to global cooperation. Let us ensure that our recovery is not only faster, but fairer, greener and more inclusive. And let us not forget that the true measure of our progress is not in the GDP figures, but in the lives we improve and the future we secure. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of North Macedonia, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Albania. You have the floor.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. The outside, I'd like to extend my sincere congratulations to Ambassador Dliba on his election as the chair of the second committee and to the members of the Bureau. You may count on Albania's full support and active engagement in ensuring a constructive and forward-looking session. As we convene for the 80th session of the General Assembly, the world found itself at a defining juncture. Conflicts, poverty, inequalities, and the intensifying impacts of climate change continue to test the resilience of our societies. the same time, new technologies, growing interdependence, and global solidarity offer unprecedented opportunities for progress. In this complex global landscape, multilateral cooperation remains indispensable. Albania firmly believes that the United Nations, and particularly this committee, must stand at the heart of our collective response, translating shared commitments into concrete results that improve the lives of people everywhere. With less than five years remaining to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the time for accelerated action is now. Mr. Chair, Albania aligns itself with the statement delivered earlier by the European Union and its member states. Allow me to highlight several points of particular importance from a national perspective. First, we must intensify implementation of the 2030 agenda. The Pact for the Future provides a renewed political framework for advancing the SDGs, but our success will be measured not by new declarations, but by tangible progress on the ground. Albania continues to integrate the SDGs across our national strategy for development and European integration, promoting sustainable growth, quality education, social inclusion, and gender equality as cross-cutting priorities. We are committed to ensuring that our national development policies contribute to the global effort to eradicate poverty in all its forms, reduce inequalities, and promote decent work and opportunities for all. Second, addressing the triple planetary crisis, climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution must remain at the core of our deliberations. Albania, situated in one of the most climate-vulnerable regions of Europe, is already witnessing the effects of environmental degradation. We are working to accelerate our green transition to renewable energy, improved waste management, and sustainable use of natural resources. We continue to support ambitious international action under the Paris Agreement and look forward to meaningful progress at COP30 in Belm. We also encourage deeper cooperation between regions and stronger international support for adaptation resilience, particularly for countries and communities most affected by climate impacts. Third, digital transformation and innovation represent key drivers of sustainable development. Albania has made notable progress in digital governments, with nearly all public services now accessible online, enhancing transparency and efficiency. Yet the global digital divide persists. The implementation of the Global Digital Compact offers an opportunity to ensure that digital technologies are inclusive, secure, and human-centered, while the upcoming WSIS+20 review should help guide a more coherent international approach. Fourth, the eradication of poverty and the promotion of social injustice must remain at the heart of our work. The forthcoming World Social Summit will be a critical moment to renew our global social contract, anchored in decent work, universal social protection, and equality for all. Albania strongly supports this process and will continue to champion policies that empower youth and women, expand access to education, and ensure that no one is left behind. Fifth, sustainable development requires adequate and predictable financing. Following the Fourth International Conference on Financial for Development, Albania calls for renewed commitment to domestic resource mobilization, responsible fiscal policies, and fair international financial cooperation. We must strengthen partnerships between governments, the private sector, and international financial institutions to unlock investment for the SDGs. Mr. Chair, as we mark the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, we must look forward inward and ensure that our organization remains fit for purpose. The revitalization of the UN's work, including within the Second Committee, is essential for maintaining the trust and confidence of our citizens. We should focus our discussions on areas where the UN brings unique values, streamline overlapping mandates, and adopt a result-oriented approach that emphasizes impact and accountability. Albania remains deeply committed to the principles of the UN Charter and to effective multilateralism. We are convinced that sustainable development and peace are inseparable, that prosperity cannot flourish without stability, and that peace is best sustained through inclusion, justice, and respect for human rights. Finally, Mr. Chair, as Albania has expressed its interest to assuming the chairmanship of the Second Committee next year, we hope to have the support to do so with great honor and a deep sense of responsibility. Let us seize this milestone session to reaffirm our shared commitment to solidarity, partnership, and the promise of sustainable development for all, leaving no one behind. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Albania, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Somalia. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My country aligns itself with the statement delivered by Iraq on behalf of the G77 and China, and by Guinea-Bissau on behalf of the African Group. Mr. Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, at the outset, allow me to congratulate you and the members of the Bureau on your election, and to assure you of our full cooperation in advancing the important work of this committee. Our deliberations take place at a defining moment for the international community. Eight years after the founding of the United Nations, the world faces a convergence of crises that test the credibility of multilateralism. Economic fragmentation, climate shocks, growing debt distress, and persistent inequalities. Global growth remains sluggish, while development finance continues to decline, leaving the 2030 agenda increasingly distant from realization. The promise of a world free from poverty and inequality will remain elusive unless our actions match our ambitions. We need no more declarations, but renewed determination and collective will. The Seville commitment has provided a timely framework to close financing gap, address debt and development crisis, and reform international financial architecture. This committee must now translate those commitments into action through resolutions that promote fair access to finance, strengthen debt sustainability, and ensure that development cooperation is predictable, concessional and aligned with national priorities. A just and inclusive global economy order requires that developing countries have a strong voice and equitable representation in international decision-making process. Mr. Chair, the accelerating climate emergency threatens to erase decades of progress. We must uphold the principles of equity, and common but differentiated responsibilities, ensuring that climate finance is new, additional and grant-based. Adaptation, resilience and the protection of livelihoods, particularly in vulnerable regions, should be at the heart of our collective response. COP30 must deliver a clear, time-bound roadmap for climate justice. Equally, Trade should be a vehicle for sustainable growth, not a source of exclusion. We must reaffirm our commitment to an open, transparent, and rule-based multilateral trading system. As the world enters a new technological era, bridging the digital divide and ensuring fair access to artificial intelligence and data governance will determine whether innovation becomes a driver of shared prosperity or a new axis of inequality. Mr. Chair, the challenges before us are immense, but so is our capacity to collective action. Multilateralism remains our strongest instrument for progress when guided by trust, fairness, and shared responsibility. Let this session of the Second Committee send a clear message that the United Nations can deliver for people and planet. that commitments made must become commitments kept, and that with five years left to 2030, we choose cooperation over fragmentation and action over hesitation. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Somalia, and I now give the floor to the distinguished Permanent Representative of Samoa. Excellency, you have the floor.

Mr. President, with five years remaining until 2030, we are far off track to achieving the SDGs. Samoa believes that profound and transformative change is not only necessary, it is inevitable. Regrettably, the recent Finance for Development Conference in Seville was a missed opportunity. Since the Rio Conference in 1992, we have made countless pledges and commitment to the development agenda. But too often, we simply rebrand and recycle old ideas while failing to deliver tangible results. Meanwhile, multilateralism is under threat and international financial commitment are being eroded. Overseas development assistance is a clear example. Today, the financing gap for achieving the SDG exceeds $4 trillion. Yet, when it comes to funding wars, resources are never in short supply. The stark contrast should give us all pause. We must confront the deep inequities embedded in the global economic and financial architecture. Yesterday's solutions are no match for today's crisis. A modern, just, and inclusive financial system must be created, one that recognizes us, understands us, and that works for us. We therefore look forward to the timely implementation of the severe commitment. Mr. President, we commend the ICJ for its advisory opinion, which rightly recognized climate change, not just as an environmental issue, but as an existential problem of planetary proportion. Unless we invest now in mitigation, adaptation, and resilient economies, we risk compounding both environmental and financial crisis. As we approach COP30, we urge that new NDCs due in 2025 and 2026 reflect maximum ambitions, specifically a 50% reduction in global emission by 2030. The 35 countries responsible for 86% of emission must be part of the solution, not just the problem. Climate finance is the bridge between ambition and action. It must be scaled up, easily accessible, devoid of burdensome conditions, and tailored to the needs of small island developing states. As climate related shock intensify, we stress the importance of prearranged finance and early action solution. Instruments such as the Risk-Informed Early Action Partnership and the MVI must be swiftly adopted by IFIs, MDPs and development partners to ensure timely and targeted resource allocation. We welcome The Secretary-General's UN80 initiative reform must translate to real impact on the ground, especially for SIDS, by eliminating duplication, enhancing coherence, and accelerating delivery. Mr. President, Madam President, Samoa remains steadfast in our commitment to the sustainable stewardship of our ocean. It is time to fundamentally transform our relationship with the ocean from a resource we exploit to one we protect and cherish. Without urgent action, states face a future without land and no usable ocean. Gender equality must remain a cross-cutting priority in all our development and cooperation effort at home Samoa has made strong progress through legislative reform, institutional mechanism, increased women's leadership participation, and expanded access to health and education for women and girls. Non-communicable diseases are now the leading health challenge in my country. We welcome the high-level meeting on NCDs and call for specific targeted action for six, particularly in prevention, health food system and sustainable financing. Energy is both a driver and accelerator for some more sustainable development ambition. Digital transformation, including AI and data-driven planning, offer tools to accelerate an inclusive just energy transition, especially through off-grid solutions. And while we acknowledge the transformative potential of STI, including artificial intelligence in advancing sustainable development, we urge caution regarding their associated risk. Mr. President, for SIDS, resilience is not an option. It is a matter of survival. Inclusivity must be the foundation of global economic reform. The rule of the global economy cannot be written without those most affected. Whether designing liquidity instrument or debt relief framework, we must be co-creators, not bystanders. This is not just about fairness. It is about building a system that lasts. Exclusion weakens us all. A global economy cannot be sustainable, inclusive, or resilient unless it is also fair, adaptive, and climate-aligned. Thank you very much.

I thank the Permanent Representative of Samoa, and now I'll give the floor to the Permanent Observer of the Holy See.

Thank you, thank you, Madam Chair. My delegation would like to extend its congratulations to you, to the Chair, and the members of the Bureau on your election, and to assure you of its constructive engagement and full support throughout the work of this session. The context in which States adopted the 2030 Agenda has undergone significant change. The pursuit of sustainable development has been hindered by a number of factors, including armed conflicts, climate change, economic fragility, and the pandemic. In this regard, my delegation reaffirms that sustainable development can only be considered authentic when it advances integral development, that is, the development of every person and the whole person. Consequently, development cannot be comprehended exclusively in economic terms. It must also foster the cultural and spiritual development of all people, Integral development is therefore the overarching metric against which the collective efforts of the international community should be measured. This vision accepts the imperative of eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimension, a task recognized as the greatest global challenge and the indispensable requirement for sustainable development. Furthermore, There is a moral imperative for the eradication of poverty. Poverty in its various forms represent a significant infringement on the God-given dignity of every human being, impeding the potential of individual and the exclusion from full participation in community life. Therefore, poverty eradication cannot be an afterthought in development. It must remain its central and primary priority. Madam Chair, the Second Committee plays a vital role in ensuring that this central priority remains at the heart of the multilateral agenda. Indeed, the Committee's work is inextricably linked to people, their needs and aspirations, and about the choices made by the international community, either fostering hope or allowing despair to take root. For this reason, my delegation urges that poverty eradication remain the touchstone for all discussions in this forum. All too often, other issues, however important, have diverted attention away from this fundamental objective. In the final five years to 2030, it is crucial that poverty eradication lie at the very heart of everything this Committee strives to achieve. Madam Chair, Prior to the exploration of multilateral solutions for sustainable development, it is imperative to reaffirm that multilateralism represents the sole viable avenue for progress. With these considerations in mind and in this final five-year push, it is essential that multilateralism be grounded in a revitalized spirit of human fraternity. This spirit is not merely a sentimental ideal, but rather a practical necessity. Pope Leo has encouraged the international community to continue to nurture the spirituality of fraternity through culture, working relationship, and diplomatic action. Adopting this perspective has the potential to transform our approach to global challenges, moving us from a logic of indifference and isolation to one of shared responsibility and cooperative action. The United Nations continue to serve as a beacon of hope for multilateralism. In a world increasingly fractured by conflict and division, these institutions represent the conviction that dialogue and cooperation are the only lasting route to peace and development. Indeed, the attainment of this common good has become a goal that is beyond the reach of individual states. Such an understanding for a broader vision of solidarity in the pursuit of integral development transcends the limitation of short-term national interests. Madam Chair, the vision of multilateralism for the common good is at odds with the current context of rising military expenditure and falling official development assistance commitments. While military budgets surge to $2.7 trillion in 2024, the annual financing gap for the sustainable development goals is estimated to be $4 trillion. Every increase in military spending represents resources that could have been used to meet people's basic needs and to establish a lasting peace. Rather than being invested in health care, education, and food systems, these resources are being diverted toward weapons that destroy lives and livelihoods. As Pablo has lamented, money that could be used to build new hospitals and schools is instead being used to destroy those that already exist. This paradox undermines the spirit of fraternity on which multilateralism depends, making the goal of sustainable development increasingly unattainable. Madam Chair, in the final five years leading up to 2030, it is evident that a renewed commitment to multilateralism provides the most reliable basis for lasting solutions. By embracing multilateralism rooted in solidarity, the international community can still protect human dignity, foster hope, and achieve integral development for all. Thank you.

I thank the Permanent Observer of the Holy See for the statement. And now I give the floor to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Chair, Excellencies, uh, no country can face the current shared challenges and geopolitical uncertainty and overlapping crisis affecting our economies, societies, and people alone. Effective multilateralism remains our best tool to deliver solutions that are fair, inclusive, and sustainable. The OECD is not an organization with universal membership, but our mandate and expertise place us in a unique position to deliver global impact through our data, policy analysis, and standards. In this spirit, our work supports the deliberations and decisions of this committee and its members. Especially in times of budgetary cuts, it is important to leverage synergies and avoid duplication wherever possible. This is why we are taking steps to reinforce our partnership with the UN, as well as with partner countries at the UN. Learning from each other through open and inclusive dialogue builds both mutual trust and expertise. With our evidence-based analysis and standards, we aim to achieve our overarching objective: better policies for better lives. This commitment extends far beyond our own membership, which has grown considerably over the years to include countries from nearly every continent, and is further reflected in the OECD's ambitious accession round with eight countries in the process of joining. Furthermore, through policy dialogue, regional and tailored country programs, and capacity building initiatives, we support partner countries across the world in implementing domestic reforms that reflect their own priorities and also meaningfully integrating their perspectives into OECD work. Thematically, our focus in this Committee is on macroeconomic policy questions and financing sustainable development, as well as science, technology and innovation for development. We are convinced that progress on the 2030 agenda requires not only financial resources, but also policy innovation, peer learning, and mutual trust. The OECD supports countries in mobilizing financing for development, in strengthening domestic resources, and in ensuring that international cooperation is effective and accountable. Looking ahead, we see the upcoming milestones. the World Social Summit in Doha, as well as the implementation of the Seville Commitment, as critical opportunities to renew global solidarity and build stronger, better coordinated partnerships. The OECD stands ready to contribute constructively to these processes, providing inclusive data, evidence-based analysis, and policy support in close coordination with our partners in the UN. Thank you, Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of the OECD. And now I'll give the floor to the representative of the Pan-African Intergovernmental Agency for Water and Sanitation for Africa.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Chair, distinguished delegates, the Permanent Observer Mission of the Pan-African Intergovernmental Agency for Water and Sanition join others to congratulate you and your team on your election to the important committee and reaffirms our commitment to advancing the United Nations development agenda, particularly in the areas of water security, sanitation equity, and climate resilience across African continent and the Pan-African community. We thank the Second Committee for its continued leadership in shaping global economic and development policy and for recognizing the centrality of water and sanitation in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Water and sanitation are not just fundamental human rights, but are also cornerstones of sustainable development, public health, and economic empowerment. Yet, millions across Africa continue to face acute challenges in accessing safe water, drinking water and adequate sanitation services. These disparities undermine progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, especially the SDG 6, and exacerbate vulnerability in health, education and gender equality. Water is life. Yet in many parts of the world, access to clean water and safe sanitation remains a persistent challenge. Over 500 million people lack access to safe drinking water, and nearly 700 million are without adequate sanitation. These deficits are not merely technical. They are moral and developmental failures that perpetuate poverty, disease, and inequality. Madam Chair, our mission works in close collaboration with member states, UN entities and regional bodies through our science-based solutions for water and sanitation to strengthen transboundary water governance and integrated resources management, promote community-led sanitation, promote climate resilience, mobilize public-private partnership to finance sanitation system in undeserved area, support gender-responsive water policies, recognizing the disproportionate burden on women and girls. We also facilitate capacity building and technology transfer for local water authorities and communities. We welcome the committee's focus on financing for development and urge greater investment in water smart economies. We call for increased allocation of ODA towards water and sanitation infrastructure, integration of water governance into national climate adaptation, Africa's water future must be shaped by African leadership, informed by local knowledge and supported by global solidarity. We invite Member States and development partners to join us in building a continent where everyone can drink clean water, every community can thrive and every nation can prosper. Madam Chair, In closing and in advancing the UN20 Better Together Initiative and our science-based solutions on access to clean water and sanitation, we reaffirm our commitment to working with United Nations system to ensure that no one is left behind in the global pursuit of water justice and sustainable sanitation. We welcome deeper engagement with UN agencies and look forward to continued contribution to the Committee's deliberations. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Pan-African Intergovernmental Agency for Water and Sanitation for Africa. And now I give the floor to the representative of the International Telecommunication Union.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The International Telecommunication Union has been a driving force in fostering multi-stakeholder action to create an equitable information society. And we have three reasons to acknowledge that commitment this year. It's the 160th anniversary of the ITU and 40 years since ITU identified the digital divide and began to bridge it. And this December, the General Assembly will convene a high-level meeting to review the outcomes from the first World Summit of the Information Society held 20 years ago. That summit, convened by ITU, was the first to emphasize multi-stakeholder engagement and to include the private sector as a partner. This approach has become a fundamental principle for our work, and we are pleased to see that it's recognized in the draft outcome document for WSIS+20. That draft does make reference to the private sector 17 times. But most of those references are in the general call for multi-stakeholder engagement, with little attention given to its specific contribution to digital innovation. 2.6 billion people are still excluded from our digital world, and it will take $2.8 trillion in infrastructure to connect them. This isn't going to be possible without significant investment by the private sector. However, the private sector is notably absent from key sections in the WSIS zero draft, where its involvement is critical, including the digital economy, social and economic development, the enabling environment, and capacity building. And it overlooks the role of the private sector in fostering a digital environment that supports micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises through tools like e-commerce and digital payments. Also, some references to the public sector, like those found in the data governance section of that zero draft, do not fully capture the extent of its role. For example, the private sector is recognized as a contributor of data without recognizing its role in generating, managing, and innovating data systems. Similarly, in the human rights section, there is an emphasis on mitigating potential harms caused by information and communication technologies, but the enabling role ICTs play in advancing rights and access to health, education and expression is not acknowledged. ITU, the specialized UN agency for digital technologies, has more than 1,000 private sector members, and we view WSIS as a chance to reinforce and strengthen collaboration with them and all of our stakeholders. With five years to go till 2030, it's critical to mobilize private sector support for sustainable and inclusive development. We're dedicated to making sure the WSIS Action Lines achieve real results in partnership with the private sector, civil society, and our member states. And we urge the second committee to recognize this, recognize this, and to support policies that harness multi-stakeholder expertise and this private sector spirit of innovation to achieve universal and affordable digital connectivity for all. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of the ITU for the statement. And now I give the floor to the Regional Commissions New York Office.

Madam Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the five United Nations regional commissions. Allow me to start by congratulating Ambassador Lamin Dibba of the Gambia on his election as chair of the Second Committee, as well as the members of the Bureau. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, the theme of the general debate resonates strongly with the critical task ahead of us. to accelerate progress on the 2030 agenda through renewed multilateralism that delivers at scale and speed, grounded in regional cooperation and solidarity. With the clock to 2030 rapidly ticking down, we are reminded that the time for pledges has passed. What is needed now is decisive shift from commitment to action. The regional commissions remain firmly committed to supporting the Second Committee in advancing inclusive, sustainable, and resilient development. As the regional arm of the United Nations, the regional commissions connect global deliberations and agreements with national realities, helping countries turn the 2030 Agenda into concrete action. The 2025 Regional Forum for Sustainable Development sent a clear message. Progress towards SDGs is too slow, but momentum for transformation is growing. Countries are calling for stronger leadership, deeper regional cooperation, foresight, investment in context-specific solutions, and renewed multilateral solidarity. The regional commissions serve as the regional engines of implementation, linking global ambition with country action through evidence, platform, and partnerships. In this connection, we will intensify efforts in providing the analysis, policy dialogue platforms, and capacity support needed to turn global commitments into regionally tailored solutions. Following the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, we are now helping countries put the severe commitment into practice, including through innovative regional financing mechanisms. Looking ahead, our work focuses on three interconnected priorities. First, scaling up sustainable finance and investment. The regional commissions are helping countries strengthen tax policy, manage debt responsibly, and build more inclusive financial systems. Through regional platforms, we align fiscal tools with climate goals and connect capital providers with sustainable investment opportunities. The recent launch of the Africa Credit Rating Agency stands as a clear example of transmo- transformative action through regional partnership. Second, driving structural transformation and inclusion. The Commission support countries in advancing green and digital transitions that generate decent jobs, empower women, and expand opportunities for young people. This includes strengthening regional value chains, promoting the care economy, and investing in innovation and social protection systems that leave no one behind. They are also preparing to help countries translate the upcoming Second World Summit for Social Development in social development commitments into action by building the institutional capacities needed for effective social policies. Third, deepening regional cooperation on shared challenges. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, the next five years will define not the fate of 20.

I thank the distinguished representative of the regional commissions, and now I give the floor to the representative of the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

Chair, Excellency, distinguished delegates, thank you for giving me the floor. The Second Committee meet at a time of profound change. Yet momentum for progress remains. From the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development to the Food Systems Summit follow-ups, we have seen renewed political will. The work of this committee plays a crucial role in advancing solution. And we were pleased to hear many delegation underlying the importance of financing for development of agriculture, food security, and nutrition for sustainable development. These are areas, key entry point for investment. As evidence show, in fact, growth in agri-food system is two to three times more effective in reducing poverty, and that every dollar invested in this sector can yield up to $16 in return. In rural areas, home to 80% of the world's poorest people, such targeted investment can fuel growth and stability, and generating over 120 million decent jobs and anchoring thriving local economies. As we approach this important session, IFAD, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, offers three core reflections. First, bold partnership across stakeholders are needed now more than ever to reduce fragmentation and align action. Second, while ODA remains central, resources must be used catalytically through innovative approaches that crowd in financing from all sources, including from the private sector. Third, country-led, people-centered, and market-driven approaches are essential for meaningful results. As a UN specialized agency and international financial institution, IFAD remains fully committed to delivering on the FFD4 outcomes, applying these approaches by acting as a convener, as an enabler of risk, and as an investment platform for rural prosperity to support impact on the ground at speed and at scale. We stand ready to support your deliberation and to turn commitment into action and results on the ground. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of IFAT. And now we therefore conclude the general debate. The committee will now resume its consideration of agenda item 21, countries in special situations, and item 23, operational activities for development, in order to hear the remaining speakers in the joint general discussion. I remind speakers that the time limit is three minutes. We have about eight speakers on the list. So I now give the floor to the first speaker, Cameroon, followed by Bangladesh. Cameroon, the floor is yours.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair, for giving me the floor. My delegation wishes to express its firm determination to support LDCs. small island developing states and landlocked developing states. Faced with the systemic challenges that are multiplying, it is urgent that we take concrete action. It should be measurable and adequately financed. In this vein, my country reaffirms its full adherence to the Doha Programme of Action for MICs, to the Abbas and to the Avaza Programme of Action. Our support rests on a strong conviction. We need to support and break our reliance on development assistance, on online universities, and the opportunities for sustainable development are important. Our funders must go beyond 0.2% of GDP and mobilize innovative finance, notably through the DTS reallocated to Africa, SDRs, Special Drawing Rights for Africa. My delegation calls for active solidarity for LDCs through the Antigua and Barbuda Platform for Action and the immediate mobilization of the $100 billion that were promised, a plan of adaptation and access to the Loss and Damage Fund. mechanism. As we recognize the challenges faced by those facing rising sea levels, there are also those who face challenges because of their landlocked status. And we support the Abaza Program of Action, notably supporting continuity of transport and facilitating trade in the transit countries who support regional solidarity. And together with that, Cameroon supports the facilitation, regional integration of youth African exchange. We can no longer rely on words that are empty. We must have additional partnerships and transparency. All of these things are possible if we have firm commitment from all.

I thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Cameroon. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Bangladesh, followed by Qatar. So Bangladesh, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Bangladesh aligns itself with the statements delivered by G77 and China and the LDC group. LDCs and graduating LDCs are on the front lines of multiple interconnected and cascading crises. Rising extreme poverty coincides with diminishing development assistance and decreasing foreign direct investment. The digital divide is also widening. With debt burdens rising, our fiscal space is shrinking, which hinders our ability to invest in health, education, and social protection of our people. In such a scenario, countries in special situations need concessional and grant financing. We need debt solutions that genuinely ease the servicing pressures that we face. Against this backdrop, the Doha Programme of Action must move from promise to action. The Compromises of the Saviya and the OAU Programme of Action adopted this year are right steps forward. But to realize their full potential, we must convert this renewed political will concrete actions. Recovery of stolen assets is of particular importance to us, and we also reiterate our call to extend LDC-specific support measures for graduating countries, with a coordinated and phased withdrawal to make their graduation sustainable and irreversible. Bangladesh is consistently advocating for adequate resource allocation for the offices that serve countries in special situations. It is more so in the context of the UNAT process and associated cost-cutting measures. Madam Chair, Last year, this Committee and the Bureau invested considerable efforts to adopt the landmark QCPR resolution, the final full cycle QCPR before 2030, with consensus. We urge that the implementation of the QCPR remains action-oriented and data-driven, with full ownership and leadership of the programme countries. It is heartening to see that the Secretary-General's 2025 QCPR report shows sustained improvement in coordination, transparent information sharing, and efficient resource use in UN country teams and resident coordinators. However, we are concerned that the resident coordinator system has remained severely underfunded, hindering its ability to support the program countries. Member states, therefore, must prioritize providing the RC system with adequate, predictable, and sustainable financing that it needs. Finally, South-South and triangular cooperation, we reiterate that it should be systematically integrated across UN entity policies, strategic plans and programmes, in line with the Buenos Aires Outcome Document. If meaningfully complemented to the North-South cooperation, it can truly accelerate SDG delivery for countries in special situations. I thank you.

I thank the Distinguished Representative of Bangladesh, and now I'll give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of Qatar.

Said al-Rais.

Madam Chair, we'd like to express our appreciation to the Secretary General. We thank him for the report submitted to the committee under this item of the agenda. We thank the special of the Office of LDCs and LLDCs and SIDS, and we thank them for their efforts to meet the aspirations of LDCs. We'd like to join. associate ourselves with the statement delivered by the G77 and China. Qatar is honored to co-chair the Group of Friends of LDCs, along with Turkey and Belgium. The SDGs report indicated that despite the fact that some progress was made, the economic development in LDCs is not yet at the level that was set in the SDGs. The poverty is widespread and education completion rates are low, as well as the rate-- while the rates of food security are high, we must take comprehensive measures to speed up the implementation of the Doha Program of Action and the Sustainable Development Goals. Here, Qatar calls on the international community and the development partners and the private sector to support the complete activation of the five primary outcomes that the Doha Program of Action is based on for the LDCs. Qatar has welcomed the General Assembly's adoption of resolution 79/323, entitled the Seville Commitments in July. which, among other things, confirmed the need to push forth in achieving the aspirations of LDCs and supporting their efforts in achieving sustainable development goals. Moreover, Qatar has welcomed the General Assembly resolution number 78/317, entitled "Antigua and Barbuda Plan of Action for Small Island Developing States," and resolution 79/233, entitled "Program of Work for Landlocked Developing Countries." Ladies and gentlemen, Qatar has always been an active strategic partner in responding to the needs and global challenges and has a rich record in cooperation and partnership. We are proud of our continued support to LDCs and in enhancing their efforts as they try to achieve development. Most of our development assistance, international development assistance, is dedicated to these small developing countries. This was clearly manifested through Qatar's commitment to offer $60 million in financial donations. On the 24th of September 2025, we signed, Qatar signed an agreement with the Office of the High Representative of LDCs, where we will fund two of the outcomes of the Doha program, which is building resilience and a food security program. The General Assembly and Resolution 79/218 has welcomed the offer made by our country to host the high-level comprehensive midpoint review. We'd like to renew our commitment to work with all partners at all levels to support-- microphone has been cut off.

I thank the distinguished representative of the State of Qatar. And now I'll give the floor to the distinguished representative of Malaysia, followed by Gambia and then Tanzania. So Malaysia, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Malaysia aligns itself with the statements delivered by Iraq on behalf of G77 and China, as well as Thailand on behalf of ASEAN. The plight of countries in special situations, including the LDCs, LLDCs continue to demand urgent global attention as they face persistent challenges in achieving sustainable development. This situation underscores the urgency for greater international support and comprehensive reforms to enable these countries to overcome poverty and build resilience in the face of economic and environmental vulnerabilities. Madam Chair, Malaysia views South-South cooperation as a catalyst for the exchange of knowledge, best practices, and resources among developing nations and stakeholders across various issues. In the quest to build back better, Malaysia stands ready to collaborate with other countries, drawing upon our national capabilities, including the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Program, MTCP. The MTCP is a cornerstone of our support for countries in these special situations, focusing on human capital development, technical assistance, and capacity building. Since 1980, over 38,000 participants from 144 countries have benefited from MTCP's training courses. The breadth of these training courses encompasses critical areas such as healthcare, education, agriculture, sustainable development, poverty alleviation, investment promotion, information and communication technologies. Further, Malaysia has also been actively facilitating third country training program, TCTP, under the triangular cooperation framework, working with both global south and north to implement projects that addresses the specific needs of LDCs and LLDCs. It is Malaysia's steadfast belief that intensifying North-South cooperation guided by principles of respect, equality and mutual benefits is crucial in addressing global inequality and inequity. Madam Chair, Malaysia therefore remains resolved in its commitment to South-South cooperation as a key strategy and looks forward to efficient systems in accelerating progress towards the 2030 Agenda, ensuring that no one is left behind. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Malaysia. And now I'll give the floor to the distinguished representative of Gambia.

Thank you, Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. My delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered by Iraq on behalf of G77 and China, Nepal on behalf of the LDCs, and wishes to offer a few remarks in our national capacity. The Gambia continues to pursue its national development targets in full alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As part of this commitment, the country is strengthening implementation of the Doha Programme of Action to Advance Structural Transformation, over to eradication, agricultural development, and climate resilience to accelerate inclusive and economic growth. With support from the government of Turkey, the UN Technology Bank in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology is implementing initiatives to boost agricultural productivity and advance food security in line with our national development plan and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for the Gambia. Notably, the deployment of post-harvest technologies in cassava value chain has helped reduce post-harvest losses by identifying the most appropriate technologies for improving cassava production, enhance farmers' knowledge, and expand the use of effective post-harvest practices nationwide, with a special focus on empowering women. Furthermore, the partnership is strengthening research and innovation linkages, offering training programs for women and youth cooperatives in cashew producing regions, and facilitating technology transfer and capacity development, all of which have improved productive quality and expanded market access, empowering communities and supporting inclusive growth. The complementary and practical nature of this collaboration makes it an exemplary model for fostering South-South and triangular partnerships, and enabling effective multilateral cooperation to address the special needs of all countries, particularly the most vulnerable. Chair, under our Ministry of Trade, the Gambia is finalizing a national Doha program of action implementation strategy, which aligns with our green recovery focused national development plan to promote private sector growth, industrial diversification, and digital transformation with the aim to increase the incomes and competitiveness of smallholder farmers and SMEs and strengthen national ownership of the DPOA commitments. However, challenges remain, such as low productive capacity, limited access to regional and international markets, minimal structural transformation, high debt burden, and inadequate access to modern technology and climate vulnerability. For these reasons, increased ODA, the capitalization and operationalization of the loss and damage fund, and the continued and sustained support of the OHRLS remains indispensable. We therefore call for strengthening of the office's mandate and resources to enhance its effectiveness and urge member states to fulfill their commitments. The government of the Gambia wishes to express profound appreciation to OHRLS and all partners for their tireless efforts in advocating for and mobilizing the required resources, as well as guiding the implementation of programs that are critical to our sustainable development.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Gambia. And now I'll give the floor to the distinguished representative of Tanzania, followed by the Holy See. Tanzania, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Madam Chair, for the floor. The United Republic of Tanzania aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, and wishes to add the following remarks in its national capacity. We thank the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report on the follow-up to the fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries. The report rightly underscore the progress under the Doha Programme of Action remains uneven. While global GDP growth has modestly recovered at 4.1%, least developed countries continue to face high debt burden, climate shocks, limited access to concessional finance. For many, including Tanzania, these persistent constraints call for strengthened international solidarity to sustain resilient socioeconomic gains. Madam Chair, Tanzania appreciates the recognition made by the Committee for Development of Policy regarding the substantial progress achieved towards meeting the graduation threshold. The 2024 triennial review confirms that Tanzania met two of the three criteria, reflecting steady implementation of long and medium-term development plans, strong investments in human capital, and sound macroeconomic management. Infant and maternal mortality have declined, access to education and clean water has expanded, and fiscal and debt framework have improved. Our transition to lower middle income status underscores our commitment to Doha Programme of Action and delivery of Sustainable Development Goals. However, graduation also presents challenges. Our economy remains dependent on agriculture and vulnerable to external and climate-related shocks. Premature withdrawal of LDC-specific support could undermine industrialization, export diversification, and digital transformation. Therefore, Tanzania calls for a smooth, well-supported transition, ensuring continued access to climate finance and dedicated mechanisms such as the IMF's resilience and sustainability facility and the AFDP climate action window. Madam Chair, in conclusion, we urge recognition of Tanzania's special circumstance as a country on the graduation path, but still facing huge multidimensional vulnerability. In this regard, the continued preferential treatment, concession finance, and the capacity building must extend beyond the graduation date to ensure an irreversible and sustainable transmission. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Tanzania, and now I give the floor to the permanent observer of the Holy See.

Thank you, Madam Chair. My delegation welcomes today's debate as an opportunity to recognize and address the unique and persistent vulnerabilities that put countries in special situations at greater risk of lagging behind in the pursuit of sustainable development. At stake are both the achievement of integral development for all and the principle that every country must be treated with equal respect and as an equal partner in the international community, regardless of its size, geographical position, or economic weight. As Pablo reminded us, helping the poor is a matter of justice before a question of philanthropy. Madam Chair, my delegation recognizes that the most pressing and unifying concern for countries in special situation is the unsustainable debt burden. It is widely acknowledged that high debt burdens limit investments in the long-term development and erode the capacity of governments to provide for the most basic needs of their people. And this is true for LDCs, LLDCs, and the SIDS alike. Debt relief, including debt cancellation, is therefore not a marginal issue, but a central prerequisite for achieving sustainable development in these countries. As such, in this jubilee year of the Catholic Church, the Holy See recognizes that debt relief is not only an economic policy choice, but above all, a moral imperative. Madam Chair, the global financial system must be directed towards the goal of attaining the common good of the human family. Therefore, meaningful action on that cannot be separated from the way international institutions are organized. In international agencies, it is necessary that the interests of the whole human family be equally represented. It is necessary, moreover, that in evaluating the consequences of their decisions, these agencies always give sufficient consideration to peoples and countries which have little weight in the international market, but which are burdened by the most acute and desperate needs and are thus more dependent on support for their development. The basic goal is to guide economic processes by ensuring that the God-given dignity of human being and his or her integral development as a person are respected in the context of the common good. Thank you very much.

I thank the Holy See, and now I give the floor to the last speaker on our list for today, which is UN Industrial Development Organization. UNIDO, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, it is an honor to deliver this statement today on behalf of UNIDO. The landmark outcomes of all major conferences keep telling the same story. To achieve the SDGs, developing countries need to invest in transforming their economies. Historically, no country has achieved developed country status without industrializing, and this premise remains true today. The least developed countries, LDCs, and landlocked developing countries, LLDCs, continue to face challenges in structural transformation and economic diversification, as the reports of the Secretary-General affirm. Over 80% of exports continue to be in primary commodities, making them exceptionally vulnerable to shocks. Agriculture remains a primary employer, but most countries are yet to establish strong linkages between agriculture and the industrial sector. Their economies continue to account for less than 1% of global manufacturing, and manufacturing also remains concentrated in low technology industries. Supporting countries to build productive capacities and local value addition for increased self-sufficiency, economic diversification, and job creation lies at the heart of UNIDO's work. Our 2024 industrial development report emphasizes that every job in manufacturing continues to create on average 2.2 jobs in other sectors of the economy. Developing countries, therefore, need targeted investments in industry, which is also highlighted in the Compromiso de Sevilla. Ladies and gentlemen, UNIDO is committed to supporting LDCs and LLDCs in addressing their unique challenges through concrete industry solutions. Our flagship programs, such as those on agro-industrial parks, contribute to rural industrialization, food system transformation, and job creation. In Ethiopia, for instance, UNIDO is supporting the development of four such parks. To ensure fair participation in global and regional value chains, UNIDO implements programs that specifically target SME competitiveness, for instance, through upskilling in digital technologies and support to national quality control systems. Our interventions align with the global frameworks from the Doha Program of Action for LDCs to the Avaza Program of Action for LDC3, prioritizing structural transformation. Currently, we're working together with the African Union Commission towards a fourth industrial development decade for Africa or IDD4 to support the continent's economic transformation, which also hosts the majority of LDCs and LLDCs. We will continue to host the biennial LDC ministerial conference in coordination with our partners from OHRLLS. The 11th edition, themed Driving Inclusive Industrialization, Investment, Innovation and Partnerships in LDCs, will take place in November 2025 in Saudi Arabia on the margins of the 21st session of our General Conference. UNIDO looks forward to continuing to work with all of you through concrete solutions on the ground. Please count on our full support. Thank you very much.

I think that representative of UNIDO. Distinguished delegates, we have come to the end of the afternoon's meeting. The committee will reconvene on Monday 13 October at 10 am in this room to begin its joint consideration of agenda items 18, sustainable development, and 19, global code of ethics for tourism. The meeting is adjourned.