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听Statement by Ms. Federica Irene Falomi, Economic Affairs Officer

29 November听2022, Geneva

听

Mr. President,

Excellencies, Distinguished delegates,

Ladies and gentlemen,

First, let me thank you for inviting the UN Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries to this important Conference and for the opportunity to share with you some perspectives on the role and work of the UN Technology Bank. 听

The 46 least developed countries are low-income countries suffering the most severe structural impediments to sustainable and inclusive development. The latest programmes of action for the least developed countries have recognized that eradicating poverty and removing structural impediments will remain a distant dream if these countries fail to build up national capacities in science, technology and innovation. The UN Technology Bank was established by the General Assembly to bridge this gap and strengthen the science, technology and innovation capacity of LDCs towards building sustainable development and structural economic transformation.

The Covid-19 pandemic and global economic downturn have reversed years of development gains, and with only eight years left to deliver on the SDGs, this agenda has become more important than ever before.

With the pace of technology development continuing to accelerate, the BWC remains increasingly relevant to address and prevent risks and threats that could affect countries in an increasingly interconnected and globalized world.

Scientific discoveries and technologies continue to advance and our collective ability to understand the impact of these changes and respond effectively needs to adjust accordingly, especially in the context of LDCs which are lagging far behind in technological development. Importantly, advanced developments in biological science and technology have also expanded the possibility of beneficial applications in the fields of public health, agriculture and the environment. The Covid-19 pandemic clearly showed the importance of biotechnology for the detection and treatment of novel viruses, but also exposed the unpreparedness of many countries, particularly the least developed countries. In this respect, the Ninth Review Conference comes at a timely moment to further strengthen the Convention implementation, particularly to advance cooperation and assistance to enhance least developed countries鈥� preparedness, as well as their access to latest developments in biotechnology through technology transfer.

Article X of the Convention presents a unique opportunity for State Parties and their development partners to advance action in this regard. Article X has direct relevance in the context of technology transfer to LDCs, which is also a key component of the UN Technology Bank鈥檚 mandate.

The UN Technology Bank has conducted Technology Needs Assessment in 14 LDCs and the evidence emerging shows that these countries attach high priority to the use of biotechnology, especially in public health and to support the technological upgrading of agricultural systems. Agriculture is a cornerstone of least developed countries鈥� economies, making up a significant portion of their GDP, and providing employment and livelihood to the majority of their population, which is expected to reach 1.3 billion by 2030. Unfortunately, these countries face critical challenges in increasing agricultural productivity and attaining food security. Enhanced international cooperation aimed at facilitating LDCs鈥� access to beneficial biotechnologies could have significant impact in increasing yields, improving food quality and safety, and enhancing crops鈥� resilience to climate shocks.

In recognition of this reality, the UN Technology Bank - in collaboration with the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology and The World Academy of Sciences - has initiated a technical cooperation programme to bridge the existing gap in technical knowledge and skills in LDCs. The central objective of the programme is to strengthen biotechnology research and regulatory capacity for the use of appropriate biotechnologies in LDCs through North-South and South-South training and capacity building. The programme has already awarded thirteen fellowships to early-career researchers.

Finally, the UN Technology Bank wishes to commend the BWC Implementation Support Unit鈥檚 efforts and Norway鈥檚 support to foster dialogue and strengthen capacity building activities under Article X through the organization of the 鈥淐onference on Promoting Beneficial Technologies鈥�. I also wish to thank the ISU for inviting the UN Technology Bank to participate at that Conference to outline its assistance activities in science, technology and innovation, as relevant to Article X. The UN Technology Bank will further discuss with the ISU relevant partnership and capacity building activities under Article X for the coming years.

I wish to conclude by thanking you for inviting the UN Technology Bank and reaffirm the UN Technology Bank鈥檚 availability to join efforts with all partners to build the capacities of the least developed countries for the positive use of biotechnology.

I thank you.

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Event recording:

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