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Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Colleagues,

I thank you, Mr. Chairman, for convening today’s meeting.

Let me start, by extending my deep appreciation to you, Mr. Chairman, and your excellent team, for your exemplary leadership in steering the work of this group.

At the outset, allow me to provide an update on the implementation of the Doha Programme of Action (DPoA).

The report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Doha Programme of Action (A/80/82) has already been released.

While some progress is evident, major challenges persist.

On the positive side, we have witnessed tangible achievements in graduation.

S?o Tomé and Príncipe became the second country to graduate since the DPOA's adoption in December 2024. Bhutan was the one to graduate in 2023.

The General Assembly has also decided that Cambodia and Senegal will graduate in 2029. In total, 14 countries are now at various stages of the graduation process - reflecting the steady socio-economic progress happening in these countries underpinned by coordinated support from the international development architecture.

Social protection coverage has improved gradually.

Manufacturing value added per capita rose from $125 in 2015 to $169 in 2023—a 35% increase. GDP growth rebounded to 4.1% in 2024, up from 2.7% in 2023, although it remains well below the 7% target set in the DPOA.

Despite some progress, significant challenges persist.

Food insecurity continues to plague 57.3 percent of our populations, more than double the global rate.

The digital divide continues to widen, with Internet penetration at only 35 percent compared to over 60 percent globally.

Educational gaps remain stark—primary school completion rates stand at 65.5 percent against the global average of 88 percent.

Nearly one-third of LDC populations still live below the international poverty line, despite decades of development efforts.

Perhaps most pressing is the financing crisis confronting these countries.

Official Development Assistance to LDCs fell by 3 percent in real terms in 2024.

Foreign Direct Investment remains alarmingly low at just 2.4 percent of global flows.

Twenty-four LDCs are classified as fragile or conflict-affected, and they host 44 million internally displaced persons. This is 57% of the global total despite representing only 15% of the world’s population.

To accelerate progress, global solidarity and strengthened partnerships are essential.

Excellencies,

Let me highlight key progress on the five flagship deliverables of the DPOA:

First on the Food Stockholding Mechanism. A UN system-wide Task Force has been established by UN-OHRLLS and held its first meeting on 8 May, bringing together FAO, IFAD, UNCDF, UNCTAD, WFP, and WTO.

We are preparing a comprehensive feasibility study and will convene consultations with Member States.

The UN Secretary-General’s Call to Action at the Food Systems Summit+2 calls for the full operationalization of the Food Stockholding Mechanism (FSM) for LDCs.

Second, on the Resilience Building Mechanism. We completed the first comprehensive study on multi-hazard early warning systems in LDCs. Based on identified gaps, regional capacity-building workshops are planned for Q4 of 2025. This initiative will complement UNSG’s early warning for all initiative.

I am pleased to report that the Government of Qatar is providing financial support for both these two key DPOA deliverables - Food stockholding and resilience building mechanisms.

Third, on the Online University. A High-Level Expert Group Meeting held in New York, which concluded yesterday, offered valuable insights on the modalities, resource requirements, and long-term sustainability of this important initiative.

The meeting brought together 27 leading global experts who offered practical and transformative recommendations, underscoring the urgency of action given that tertiary enrollment remains just 11 percent. With tertiary enrollment in LDCs at just 11%, this initiative aims to expand access to quality higher education.

The experts concluded that the OUL is not only viable but also holds immense potential to benefit LDCs by expanding access to quality higher education and accelerating sustainable development.

A pilot phase will be launched in 2026.

Fourth, on iGRAD, the Sustainable Graduation Support Facility.

I recently visited Lao PDR, where I met with the Prime Minister and other senior government officials to discuss both the challenges and opportunities associated with graduation. I reaffirmed the UN’s full support for Lao PDR’s sustainable and irreversible graduation.

Further, we held an Inter-Agency Task Force meeting in May and the UN partners demonstrated strong commitment to coordinated graduation support.

We will convene a High-Level Global Meeting in Doha on graduation and smooth transition to launch new initiatives under sustainable graduation support facilities (iGRAD).

We have secured nearly $1 million through the UN 91制片厂 and Development Fund for Cambodia, Senegal, and Solomon Islands to support their sustainable graduation and smooth transition.

Fifth, on the International Investment Support Centre.

We are finalizing the feasibility study and will initiate some pilot projects in some LDCs. This initiative has been recognized in the FFD4 draft outcome document.

Finally, on peacebuilding and sustaining peace, we are developing operational guidelines to strengthen UN system support for LDCs in conflict and post-conflict situations.

An independent consultant will lead an inclusive consultation process from August to December 2025.

We will then hold a validation workshop in February 2026 with the participation of all relevant stakeholders.

The guidelines will establish tailored support frameworks to address the specific needs of conflict-affected and post-conflict LDCs.

Excellencies,

The Third LDC Future Forum was held in Lusaka in April 2025 under the theme “Enhancing Resilience Against Systemic Shocks,”.

It brought together nearly 300 participants from governments, UN agencies, the private sector, civil society, and youth.

The event was inaugurated by the President of Zambia, and several ministers also spoke at the Forum.

Twelve finalists presented cutting-edge research on topics ranging from AI in agriculture to circular economy solutions for e-waste.

We also convened a National Focal Points (NFP) meeting alongside the Forum, enabling NFPs to participate in the Forum’s sessions.

The next Forum will take place in Helsinki, focusing on “Empowering Future Generations” through education, innovation, and inclusive growth.

Last month, we convened a meeting in Bangkok on the trade elements of the DPOA, in partnership with the WTO and ESCAP, bringing together two representatives from each LDC alongside leading trade experts.

Discussions focused on promoting digital trade and e-commerce, as well as strategies to sustain trade performance after graduation.

We have plan to hold a similar meeting for African LDCs by the first quarter of next year.

We are actively collaborating with our UN partners to strengthen their support for LDCs.

I regularly engage with agency principals to ensure enhanced and coordinated assistance.

We continue to engage with UN partners through the Inter-Agency Consultative Group, the most recent meeting having reaffirmed collective support despite resource challenges.

Additionally, we are implementing three PDF-funded projects to:

? Build capacity for export diversification using South-South cooperation.
? Support graduating LDCs in resource mobilization; and
? Accelerate digital transformation in Asian LDCs through skills and infrastructure development.

Excellencies,

The coming months ahead offer critical opportunities.

? The Ocean Conference in Nice in June offers a platform to advance LDC maritime priorities.

? FFD4 in Seville from in July represents a crucial moment for promoting LDCs’ financing agenda, with two DPoA deliverables already featured in the outcome document.

? The Second World Summit on Social Development in Doha in November and COP 30 in Belém presents offer key platforms to advance sustainable development and climate change priorities.

There will be a High-level Meeting of LDCs on Financing; and a high-level side event on financing sustainable graduation organized by OHRLLS, Nepal, Lao and Bangladesh.

We are also preparing for the Midterm Review of the DPoA in early 2027.

National reports from all 44 LDCs are due by June 2026.

We will soon share reporting templates.

Regional reviews will be conducted in Africa, and in the Asia-Pacific region, in 2026.

These reviews will be designed to align national efforts with broader regional strategies, such as the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and ASEAN connectivity plans.

Finally, a global stock take will take place at United Nations Headquarters, synthesizing contributions from civil society, academia, and the private sector to provide a comprehensive overview of progress and challenges.

Excellencies,

In the context of the Secretary-General’s UN80 Initiative, and the ongoing review of Secretariat operations, I wish to convey my deep appreciation for your continued support.

With its mandate expanded by new frameworks such as the DPOA, Awaza POA, and ABAS, a strong and well-resourced OHRLLS is more crucial than ever to ensure that the priorities of LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS remain central to the UN agenda. We count on your continued support to the Office.

Excellencies,

As you are aware, we are just two months away from the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, to be held in Awaza, Turkmenistan in August.

Given the fact that half of the LDCs are also LLDCs, the LLDC3 Conference and its outcomes are highly relevant to the interest of the group.

The UN Secretary-General has already sent invitations to all the head of states and governments, and I encourage all of you to participate in LLDC3 at the highest possible level.

Excellencies,

As we navigate these challenging, the steadfast support of the group for the Office has been instrumental.

Your confidence enables us to mobilize resources—nearly $35 million for 2024-2025—and build partnerships that translate global commitments into country-level impact.

With 14 countries now in the graduation pipeline, and we need enhanced international support and solidarity to stay on course and sustain this momentum.

Together, we can deliver on the promise of the DPOA - for 1.27 billion people in the world’s most vulnerable countries.

I thank you.