Under-Secretary-General and High Representative

United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS)

Statement

Mr. Gyan Chandra Acharya Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States at the closing of the High-Level International Workshop on “WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation: Implications for LLDCs”

3 June 2014 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia Conference Hall “Consensus” Peace Avenue -7a, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia,

 Mr. Moderator  Minister Luvsanvandan Bold  Excellences  Distinguished delegates  Ladies and Gentlemen.

The last two days have been very intense, which shows your very strong commitment and dedicated contribution to the causes of LLDCs. I think that participation of the large number of LLDCs in this event here, in Mongolia, on an important issue of the WTO trade facilitation agreement and its implications for the overall development of the LLDCs was very important. Your forward looking approach as well as holistic method towards addressing the challenges and aspirations of LLDCs is critical in taking the work forward to the next phase.

I think in all the discussions, I have been briefed, you have been looking towards the concrete follow up actions in all the areas that you have discussed, especially the trade facilitation agreement, and its implementation, and how best it can really help LLDCs. You also discussed how best we can have a win-win situation, working together with transit countries and development partners.

Another major topic you discussed was the private sector development which has a very important role to play. Deliberations were not only on how they should be involved in the negotiation process, but also on how the capacity development of small and medium size enterprises should be enhanced in the LLDCs.

Similarly, the legal framework, which is a very important requirement in any collaboration with transit countries, was one of the major issues that you also strongly discussed and came up with important suggestions. Furthermore, I have been also informed that you looked at regional integration trade issues that contribute to the promotion of the interests of

2 LLDCs as well as how advocacy and strategic partnership on the issues of the LLDCs at the national, regional and international level should be taken forward.

You have also discussed the role of the International Think Tank on the LLDCs in terms of its work in the days ahead. The Think Tank is very important in identifying how best working together with the transit countries we can enhance, again, not only the interests of LLDCs, but also interests of the people living in the LLDCs. These are all important topics that we are looking as key issues for the Second UN Conference on LLDCs in Vienna.

Finally, we all know that it is only by working together and highlighting the concerns as well as aspirations of LLDCs as a most vulnerable group among the international community that we can promote the interests of the LLDCs at the global level. Linking LLDCs’ priorities with the Post 2015 Development Agenda is important for achieving the objectives of the LLDCs with a strong global partnership. This is critical for the enhancement as well as the promotion of the interests of the LLDCs. Nothing will happen without a strong national leadership and strong national strategy. This is critical, as it helps strengthen the transit access collaboration with the neighbors and also help promote regional integration and international partnership.

While taking into account all the above-mentioned issues, an inclusive and holistic development framework is a key objective for all of us to look forward to during the Second UN Conference in Vienna. Once again, I look forward to your strong contributions, as we go ahead towards the preparation of the Vienna Conference. I just want to remind you that next week we will have a Preparatory Committee meeting in New York. I am sure that those of

3 you who are representing your countries should take forward the main points that you have mentioned here in order to make sure that they are clearly reflected in the process of the outcome document for the Second UN Conference.

Finally, once again, thank you for your dedication, your commitment and your contribution to this workshop, but also to the cause of LLDCs. I wish you all the very best for your trip back home.

Thank you very much.