Several leaders of countries participating in the 5th UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) have underscored that the economic and social challenges facing the least developed countries (LDCs) require concerted efforts by the international community to advance development in those countries and broad co-operation to assist them achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030.The leaders of states and governments who spoke at the LDC5 second plenary session emphasised that political factors, natural disasters, wars, conflicts, and the Covid-19 repercussions have hindered efforts of many countries in the LDCs category in achieving the desired growth that contributes to the promotion of economic and social development, calling for international co-operation to help them overcome these crises, which were a major obstacle to growth.The speakers pointed out that despite the passage of 50 years since the establishment of the LDCs group, which includes 46 countries, few countries emerged from this category and achieved a growth rate that enabled them to thrive and develop. Also, they stressed that the factors that can help the LDCs achieve tangible progress on the path to realising the Doha Programme of Action (DPoA) for the decade 2022-2031 is the focus on education, health, innovation and technology and political and economic reforms in those countries with the importance of increasing foreign investments, along with debt relief on them.Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh said that 50 years after the establishment of the LDCs group, the matter has become clear and the urgent need for this work to lead to tangible results after the adoption of four action plans, all of which contributed to the promotion of economic and social development. He added that the time has come to achieve tangible progress after all these years of work, especially since the number of countries was 25 when the group was established in 1971, while the number is now 46 countries in the LDCs category, including 33 African countries.Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan said that since the last LDC conference in Istanbul, the world has changed a lot and many political, economic and social changes have taken place, especially in developing countries. He pointed out that since the last conference, only three countries have emerged from the LDCs category, which raises questions about the challenges and obstacles that must be removed to expand the scope of countries that emerge from this category, as the Republic of Seychelles did in the past.He underlined that the phenomenon of climate change is a crisis that has greatly hindered the acceleration of growth in many countries and caused social and economic disasters, calling for concerted efforts to overcome its effects by extending a helping hand to the most affected countries and establishing partnerships that contribute to advancing development in the LDCs. Slovenia President Natasa Pirc Musar expressed the support of the most developed countries for the LDCs, especially in light of the multiple crises facing the world, which in turn contributed to the slowdown in the desired progress in development.She stressed that no one is safe from all the crises afflicting the world, especially the LDCs, which were greatly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, which was not just a health crisis, but rather a crisis that left difficult economic conditions and impeded development in several countries. Musar underlined that fighting poverty and strengthening the education sector, food security and health are all factors that help the LDCs in developing their economies at a time when the gap between developed and least developed countries is widening.Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera said that the LDC5 is taking place in difficult global conditions characterised by climate shocks, geopolitical tensions, unprecedented financial challenges, health and energy challenges, and humanitarian challenges.He focused on the difficult economic conditions his country has been suffering since its independence 60 years ago, despite its remarkable progress in fighting poverty, combating corruption, women's empowerment, women's and children's health, youth advancement, and development.Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio stressed the importance of unifying efforts for the advancement of the LDCs and benefiting from the experiences of countries that have achieved economic developments, while underlining the importance of equal opportunities in the process of supporting countries that are still facing many challenges to get out of the least developed classification.Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of Sudan Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan touched on his country's experience in achieving SDGs, which in turn achieve sustainable growth for his country, by focusing the state budget on the education and health sectors.He said that Sudan has prepared a comprehensive social and economic vision for 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, to set a road map for achieving sustainable development despite the challenges facing the country, especially the issue of displaced persons and refugees and climate change.Al-Burhan added that the co-operation of the international community in these circumstances that the world is going through is undoubtedly important in achieving equal opportunities and creating a boost to development in the LDCs, through real partnerships and innovative solutions.Chairman of the Presidential Council of Libya Dr Mohamed al-Menfi said that his country has been and still is supporting the LDCs in Africa despite all the challenges and crises that those countries have been exposed to, such as health problems, climate change issues, environmental change, natural disasters and wars, which calls for building societies where peace and justice prevail.He stressed his country's belief that the LDCs can create a prosperous future thanks to their capabilities, but many measures must be taken to benefit from them, indicating his support for the DPoA, which calls for the establishment of development projects in the LDCs that contribute to a rapid and lasting recovery in those countries. Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani said that the LDC5 is taking place in an exceptional and extremely important circumstance, where the political, health and economic challenges, in addition to the war in Ukraine, had a significant impact on the slowdown in growth in those countries.He added that successive crises have hampered the efforts made by the LDCs, therefore, it is important now to take serious steps to implement the DPoA and the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA), through the solidarity of all and the support of the international community and the developed countries.
