Armenia`s permanent representative to U.N. participates in First  session of Preparatory Committee for 3rd U.N. Conference on  Landlocked Developing Countries

ArmInfo. Below is a statement by Ambassador Mher Margaryan at the First session of the Preparatory Committee for the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries

Co-Chairs of the Preparatory Committee, Ambassador Enkhbold Vorshilov  and Ambassador Alexander Marschik,

Madam Under-Secretary General, Rabab Fatima,

Thank you for your remarks and tireless efforts to ensure the smooth  work of the Preparatory Committee. I also commend the Chair of the  Group of LLDC, Ambassador Gladys Mokhawa, for successfully  coordinating the Group's activities ahead of the 3rd UN Conference on  LLDCs.

We congratulate the Office of the Representative for the Land locked  developing countries and fellow core drafting team members for  successfully finalizing the work on the Outcome document; the  presented text represents a strong and action-oriented framework to  guide the LLDCs in the upcoming decade. Building on the lessons  learned from the VPoA, the five priority areas of the new document  address the needs and aspirations of the LLDCs in a more  comprehensive and holistic manner. We hope that upcoming discussions  on the draft will further solidify the text with concrete  recommendations to ensure action- oriented outcome.

Chair,

In the run-up to the 3rd LLDC Conference Armenia, jointly with the  OHRLLS organized a thematic ministerial meeting on December 14-15, in  Yerevan entitled "Enhancing equitable, affordable and inclusive  transport connectivity as a driver for sustainable and resilient  economies". The meeting provided a platform for the Ministers and  high-level representatives of LLDCs from all regions, transit  countries, development partners, regional organizations, UN entities,  private sector and other stakeholders to discuss the current  challenges and identify possible solutions to improve transport  connectivity and LLDC's better integration into the global trade  market.

During the thematic sessions ministers and other participants  deliberated upon the progress and lessons learned on the enhanced  transport connectivity since the introduction of the VPoA  highlighting a number of key areas that should be better addressed  within the preparatory process of the Conference.

Among the main takeaways of Yerevan meeting were:

- The need to establish a dedicated infrastructure financing facility  for LLDCs within the international financial system to address the  challenges related to the poor maintenance of infrastructure, missing  links, and inefficient transport and logistics services.

- Prioritization of the development and maintenance of resilient  transport infrastructure, harmonization and simplification of customs  procedures and regulations, and promotion of trade facilitation.

- Deepening the economic, political, and cultural ties between LLDCs  and transit countries for regional prosperity and stability.

- Establishment of favorable conditions for LLDCs to develop digital  economy and e-commerce by creating an appropriate environment that  includes the necessary policies, legal and regulatory frameworks.

- The need to expend South-South and triangular cooperation and to  leverage existing and innovative financing arrangements.

- To enhance and attract private sector investment and overall FDI  towards infrastructure development.

Chair,

In this critical juncture in the run-up to the LLDC Conference, as  well as other milestone intergovernmental processes such as the  Summit of the Future later this year and the Fourth International  Conference on Financing for Development in 2025 stronger cooperation  and linkages are required to ensure that interconnected and  persistent challenges faced by LLDCs are met accordingly. The  Armenian delegation will continue to be fully supportive of these  efforts.

Thank you.