His Excellency Michael Gaffey, Chairman of the Trade and Development Board,
Honorable Madam, Isabelle Durant UNCTAD Deputy Secretary General,
Excellencies
Distinguished Delegates.

I have the honor to present this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China and I took this opportunity to refer to the single session of the Committee on Trade and Development. This session was especially important for developing countries because we discussed the key issues of trade and development related to the challenges, we face to integrate trade due to vulnerabilities, particularly small island states.

The Group of 77 and China congratulate the result of the agreed conclusions. They reiterate the importance of international trade as a key means for economic growth, the eradication of poverty and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

In the same way, we want to thank all the divisions involved in preparing the reports described. These problems significantly have a better understanding of the debates on how to address social, environmental challenges, in reducing inequality and in creating opportunities for all.

The Group of 77 and China wishes to reiterate the importance of the analytical content of the work of the Secretariat. The previous work serves as a reference for current tasks, even when recommendations may vary due to relevant circumstances.

DECLARACIÓN DE PANAMÁ EN NOMBRE DEL GRUPO DE LOS 77 Y CHINA ANTE LA 69ª SESIÓN EJECUTIVA DE LA JUNTA DE COMERCIO Y DESARROLLO SOBRE EL TEMA 5: INFORME DE LA UNDÉCIMA SESIÓN DE LA COMISIÓN DE COMERCIO Y DESARROLLO
(Ginebra, 6 de febrero de 2020)

Su Excelencia Michael Gaffey, Presidente de la Junta de Comercio y Desarrollo,
Honorable Señora, Isabelle Durant Secretaria General Adjunta de UNCTAD,
Excelencias,
Distinguidos Delegados.

Tengo el honor de presentar esta declaración en nombre del Grupo de los 77 y China y aprovecho esta oportunidad para referirme a la undécima sesión de la Comisión de Comercio y Desarrollo. Esta sesión, fue particularmente importante para los países en desarrollo porque se debatieron las cuestiones clave de comercio y desarrollo relacionadas con los retos que confrontan para integrarse al comercio debido a las vulnerabilidades, en particular los pequeños Estados insulares.

El Grupo de los 77 y China se congratula por el resultado de las conclusiones acordadas. En ellos se reitera la importancia del comercio internacional como medio clave para el crecimiento económico, la erradicación de la pobreza y la aplicación de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible.

Asimismo, queremos agradecer a todas las divisiones involucradas en la elaboración de los informes presentados. Estos contribuyen significativamente a tener una mejor comprensión a los debates sobre cómo abordar los desafíos sociales, ambientales, en la reducción de la desigualdad y en la creación de oportunidades para todos.

El Grupo de los 77 y China desea reiterar la importancia del contenido analítico de los trabajos de la Secretaría. Los trabajos anteriores sirven como referencia para las tareas actuales, incluso cuando las recomendaciones puedan variar debido a circunstancias relevantes.

Mr. President, H.E. Ambassador Michael Gafey (Ireland), Madam Isabell Durant, the Deputy Secretary General of UNCTAD,
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 & China.

Mr. President,

Let me begin by thanking the Secretariat for preparing the report of the 3rd Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Financing for Development. Financing development is crucial to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, without adequate financing mechanisms neither the Addis Ababa Action Agenda will be fulfilled nor SDGs be attained. However, various reports of UNCTAD tell of huge gap in financing development amounting to 2.5 trillion of US dollars per year.

Hence the importance of the work of the IGE on Finance for Development in delivering UNCTAD’s mandate, in fostering an informed debate of the related issues, preparing the foundations to reach consensus between the member states that can be built upon in taking concrete actions, give direction to efforts to mobilize internal and external resources, and bridge the gap we are witnessing in financing development. In that context, the Group of 77 and China recognizes the contribution that this IGE made in covering related areas over its 3 sessions since its establishment, according to the mandate from the Nairobi Maafikiano.

The Group of 77 and China would like to highlight, in particular, the work carried out during the Third Session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts. A wide variety of perspectives and ideas along with thorough analysis were presented by the experts, allowing for dialogue and rich debate. The Group of 77&China, therefore, invites the Trade and Development Board to adopt the report presented by the chairman that includes the agreed policy recommendations of that IGE.

Mr. President,

The Group of 77 and China emphasizes the need for international development cooperation to achieve the SDGs. That cooperation should be based on internationally agreed principals of national ownership, alignment with national development strategies and systems, harmonization of donor actions, managing for development results and mutual accountability.

Mr. President,

The Group of 77&China emphasizes the importance of the role of Official Development Assistance in financing development for all developing countries, especially the LDCs and structurally vulnerable economies, in view of the existential threat posed by climate change, as a critical source of financing to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The private sector can have a positive auxiliary role, however, that role needs to be considered carefully to ensure its alignment with national development priorities, strategies and systems of the recipient countries.

I thank you Mr. President.