President of the Trade and Development Board Ambassador Bahtijors Hasans,
Secretary-General of UNCTAD Ms. Rebeca Grynspan,
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,

1. The Group of 77 and China would like to start by thanking the Secretary-General of UNCTAD for the detailed presentation on the implementation of the outcomes of the 15th Session of the UNCTAD Conference. In this regard, the group would like to commend her willingness and efforts geared at re-focusing the work of UNCTAD to respond to the mandate set out in the Bridgetown Covenant.

2. We are highly appreciative of the comprehensive information that has been provided. As a large, diverse Group we would be able to react more meaningfully if some highlights are shared in advance, so we encourage the Secretariat to make arrangements for some advanced information for the next time we consider similar agenda items.

Now, turning to our statement.

4. Mister President, our group believes that it is of utmost importance that the implementation of the Bridgetown Covenant is properly planned, documented and regularly presented to the Membership. Only through this reporting process will member States understand the advancements made and what parts of the Mandate need more attention. It is important to prevent a situation where we arrive at a new Conference without knowing the level of implementation of the pervious mandate.

5. We wish to stress the importance of the continuation of the implementation of the Bridgetown Covenant within the three pillars of UNCTAD’s work. In research and analysis pillar, the group expects to see topics and recommendations that allow developing countries to overcome the challenges identified in the Covenant, as well as new challenges. In technical assistance, the Group expects the work to directly impact developing countries in their structural and economic transformation. Finally, under the consensus building pillar, the group emphasizes the importance of reflecting the priorities and challenges identified in the Covenant as the basis for choosing the topics of all meetings of the intergovernmental machinery.

6. Finally, the group notes that in the past, a written report of UNCTAD`s contributions to the implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields was published in advance of the TDB meeting. We would like to request the continuation of this practice so as to allow us to better prepare and respond to the reported elements.

Mister President, I thank you.