玩偶姐姐

Good afternoon, distinguished members of the media, dear friends.

 I thank you for joining us today for the briefing on the upcoming Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3), to be held in Awaza, Turkmenistan from 5-8 August (pre-conference day, 4 August). 

We gather today not only to share updates but to also put the spotlight on a group of 32 countries that are too often overlooked: the landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), home to over 570 million people. Half of them is in Africa; and half are also LDCs.

Their development challenges are profound and persistent- rooted in one unchangeable reality: they have no direct access to the sea.

This isolation from global markets drives up trade costs by up to 74%, and doubles export times compared to coastal economies.

Despite making up 7% of the world’s population, LLDCs account for just 1.2% of global merchandise trade and less than 1% of global exports. Nearly one-third of LLDCs are at high risk of, or already in, debt distress.

LLDC3 is a pivotal opportunity to reverse this trajectory.

It offers a once-in-a-decade opportunity to reshape the development path of LLDCs by mobilizing international support and partnerships, and by placing their needs firmly on the global development agenda.

The Conference will be a truly inclusive, multistakeholder platform, bringing together Heads of State and Government, Ministers, Parliamentarians, the private sector, civil society, youth, and the UN system.

The SG will lead the UN delegation, reaffirming the system’s full commitment to the LLDC agenda. The President of the General Assembly and P-ECOSOC will also participate among others. 

The Conference will be anchored in the Awaza Programme of Action (APOA) - a bold and forward-looking blueprint for the decade 2024-2034 , adopted by consensus by the General Assembly in December 2024. 

It identifies five strategic priority areas, namely: structural transformation, trade facilitation, regional integration, infrastructure development, and resilience building.  

To translate these priorities into action, the POA includes five flagship deliverables for LLDCs:

?    Regional Agriculture Research Hubs 
?    Infrastructure Investment Finance Faculty
?    UN Secretary-General’s high-level panel on Freedom of Transit

?    A dedicated work Programme under the auspices of the WTO; and 
?    a Formal Negotiating Body under the UNFCCC [and this process has been completed].

Allow me now to share some of the key highlights of the programme of the Conference.

At the heart of the Conference will be the intergovernmental track, which includes six plenary meetings and five high-level thematic roundtables. These sessions will serve as the central space for Member States to deliberate on the key issues and to adopt the Conference’s outcome document.

In parallel, there will be dedicated stakeholder forums that bring together critical development partners beyond government. These include:

?    A Private Sector Forum, where business leaders, investors, and innovators will explore opportunities for trade, investment, and enterprise development across LLDCs.
?    A Parliamentary Forum, providing a platform for legislators to contribute to the implementation of the APOA. 
?    A Civil Society Forum, to bring the voices of grassroots and advocacy groups; and
?    A Youth Forum, to spotlight the aspirations of young leaders.

In addition, LLDC3 will host a series of special initiatives, including:
?    A Ministerial Meeting on South-South Cooperation.
?    A Women Leaders’ Forum, and
?    The launch of the LLDC Global Business Network – the first ever such platform to connect businesses across landlocked, transit, and partner countries.

Dear Colleagues, 

To facilitate your reporting, we have made several resources available:
?    The official LLDC3 mobile app, providing real-time updates, schedules, and participant information.
?    A Conference Information Note, accessible via QR code (currently available in English, with other versions to follow).
?    A media center with workspace facilities at the Awaza Conference Center:
?    high-speed internet and workspace.
?    Live feeds via UN WebTV
?    Regular press briefings and highlights
?    Interview opportunities with key participants

Media accreditation remains open through the UN Media Accreditation Unit until 17 July.

Dear colleagues, 

At its heart, LLDC3 is about people.

It is about the millions of children in LLDCs who lack internet or digital tools; the farmers who cannot get their goods to market because of poor roads; and the entrepreneurs whose dreams are held back by border delays and limited access to funding.

We need to bring these human stories to the world – and we count on you to do that. 

Your reports can help amplify the voices of more than half a billion people - and ensure that geography does not determine destiny.

We look forward to seeing you in Awaza, and to your continued partnership in advancing this   vital agenda.