23rd Annual Ministerial Meeting of Foreign Ministers of Landlocked Developing Countries

Theme: Building momentum towards Gaborone: Partnering for a Decade of Action and Transformation in LLDCs.

The third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) will be held in Gaborone from 10 to 13 December 2024, at the highest possible level including Heads of State and Government. The Conference will adopt a decade long framework for international support to address the special needs of landlocked developing countries (LLDCs). Guided by the theme “Driving progress through partnerships”, the Conference aims to strengthen partnerships between the LLDCs and transit countries and their development partners.

Effective global cooperation is increasingly critical to our survival but difficult to achieve in an atmosphere of mistrust, using outdated structures that no longer reflect today’s political and economic realities. This Summit of Future scheduled for 20 – 23 September 2024 is a once-in-a- generation opportunity serving as a moment to mend eroded trust and demonstrate that international cooperation can effectively achieve agreed goals and tackle emerging threats and opportunities. It will create the conditions in which implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development can more readily be achieved.

Following the Summit of Future, this year’s Annual Ministerial Meeting of Foreign Ministers of LLDCs precedes the third UN Conference on LLDCs and provides an opportunity for LLDCs to prepare for the Conference. The meeting will mobilize high-level participation and explore approaches for full implement the new Programme of Action for LLDCs and for accelerated implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Objectives

The key objectives of the Ministerial Meeting include the following:

• Take stock of progress in the implementation of the VPoA and 2030 Agenda for sustainable Development, share country experiences, lessons learnt and explore opportunities for the next decade.
• Prepare for the third UN Conference on LLDCs to be held in Gaborone and build political momentum to ensure high level participation and engagement by all the relevant stakeholders in the Conference.
• Introduce the draft new Programme of Action and discuss strategies to achieve its full implementation.
• Identify priorities for the Group’s engagement during the year 2024/25.
• Elect the new Bureau for the Group of LLDCs for the term 2024-2025.

Expected Outcome

• A Ministerial Declaration highlighting progress in achieving SDGs in LLDCs and strategies for acceleration of the achievement of SGDs in LLDCs a well implementation of the new Programme of Action.
• Build momentum towards the LLDC3.
• Contribute to the discussions of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.
• Election of the new Bureau for the Group of LLDCs

Documents

• Concept NotePDF
• ProgrammePDF

Statements

OPENING SESSION

• Opening and Introductory Remarks by Hon. Dr. Lemogang Kwape, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Botswana, Global Chair of the Group of LLDCs;Word document
• Remarks by H.E Mr. Philemon Yang, President of the 79th Session of the UN General AssemblyWord document
• Statement by H.E. Bob Rae, President of the UN Economic and Social CouncilPDF
• Remarks and update on the preparations for the third UN Conference on LLDCs by Ms. Rabab Fatima, Under-Secretary General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), and Secretary General of the Third UN Conference on LLDCs

GENERAL DEBATE

• Statement by BhutanPDF
• Statement by Burkina FasoWord document
• Statement by BurundiWord document
• Statement by CanadaPDF
• Statement by Common Fund for Commodities (CFC)PDF
• Statement by ChinaPDF
• Statement by EswatiniPDF
• Statement by European Investment Bank (EIB)Word document
• Statement by GermanyPDF
• Statement by International Think Tank for Landlocked Developing Countries (ITTLLDC)Word document
• Statement by The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) PDF
• Statement by JapanWord document
• Statement by KazakhstanWord document
• Statement by KyrgyzstanPDF
• Statement by LatviaPDF
• Statement by MongoliaPDF
• Statement by Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA)Word document
• Statement by RussianWord document
• Statement by RwandaWord document
• Statement by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)Word document
• Statement by UNDPPDF
• Statement by United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)PDF
• Statement by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)Word document
• Statement by United States of AmericaPDF
• Statement by United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)Word document
• Statement by United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) PDF
• Statement by ZambiaPDF
• Statement by ZimbabweWord document