Statement by Dr. Arjun Karki, International Coordinator of LDC Watch at the ESCAP/OHRLLS Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting on Implementing the Istanbul Programme of Action, 14-16 December 2011, Bangkok, Thailand

Mr. Shun-ichi Murata, Deputy Executive Secretary of ESCAP, Mr. Sandagdorj Erdenebileg, Chief , Policy Development, Coordination, Monitoring and Reporting Service, UN-OHRLLS, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen!

Let me begin by thanking the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the OHRLLS for organizing a very timely Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting on Implementing the Istanbul Programme of Action and for their strong commitment in addressing development challenges of LDCs in the Asia-Pacific region.

It gives me great honour to speak in this highly important meeting of the Asia Pacific Region for implementing the IPoA that has set an ambitious goal of enabling at least half of the number of LDCs to meet the criteria for graduation by the year 2020. The IPOA had renewed and strengthened global partnership in addressing the development challenges in LDCs. However, there is a constant fear that the IPoA might be regarded as a “much ado about nothing” if we fail to take its implementation seriously. Let us remind ourselves that the LDCs are characterised by inherent geographical and environmental constraints, which make them so vulnerable to the global external shocks and crisis. Ironically, they have had no role in creating the crises they experience. Therefore, we need a bold new strategy, an alternative development pathway that will change the face of the LDCs, inspire peoples and provide the framework for collective action in LDCs in our region and all parts of our society. Hence the appropriate and correct implementation of the IPoA is a big challenge in front of us. If we accept this challenge and take it forward in the correct stride then it will one day definitely serve to be a reason for us to celebrate.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!

It is very sad and moreover embarrassing to see that the number of LDCs from 24 in the year 1970 has increased or in fact exactly doubled to 48 numbers of LDCs today. This is an embarrassing situation not only for the LDCs but also for the development partners. This clearly indicates that the development paradigm since the last 4 decades has entirely failed us. Talking about the Asia Pacific region, it is pitiful to say that so far only one country that is Maldives has been able to graduate from the status of LDCs in the year 2010.

We are aware of the fact that the Least Developed Countries are still imprinted with their physical and geographical vulnerabilities and socio-economic constraints. The citizens of the LDCs on one hand have the lowest per capita incomes in the world and on the other hand these very LDCs have the highest population growth rates. Also, the Least Developed Countries are the most off track in the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and are at the bottom of the Human Development Index rankings. The LDCs are facing severe infrastructure deficits and they are also the ones who are the most vulnerable to internal and external shocks and multiple crises that we have witness in the recent past. Therefore, our new regional strategy must ensure the democratic ownership of the development processes which places people at the centre of development and addresses the issues such as accountability, sovereignty, peace and democracy in Asia and Pacific LDCs.

With the LDCs being in such vulnerable conditions, it is impossible to achieve IADGs in LDCs including IPOA and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Therefore, ladies and gentlemen, why we have put forward the call of NO MDGs without LDCs! Yes, in a certain positive light, the LDCs have travelled almost two-thirds of the way to achieve the MDGs but the achievements are not consistent with the expected pace to achieve the targets by 2015.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!

Therefore, there is an urgent need of a strong partnership among LDC governments, CSOs and the development partners including UN OHRLLS and ESCAP in the implementation of IPoA. In this regard, the need of the hour is the initiation of an urgent joint combined action from these entities without any further delay and in an effective manner. The current development paradigm needs to be revisited and the structural causes of under development in LDCs needs to be addressed. Likewise, we need to urgently come up with radical programme that can build LDCs capacity in reducing the vulnerability of LDCs to economic, natural and environmental shocks and disasters, as well as climate change in our region.

Similarly, I would also like to suggest that IPOA urgently need be integrated into the National systems (national development plan and strategies) and the UN systems; and in the programme of other international organizations that are active in our region.

Finally, I hope this meeting will be able to come up with a regional road map for implementing the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA) for Asia and the pacific that can provide a framework for action, both at the national level and in the form of regional partnership that would add value to national development strategies and processes in the Asia-Pacific LDCs. Similarly, I am also very much hopeful that the strategies we are going to adopt here will be instrumental in building productive capacity of LDCs which is recognised as development multiplier and helpful in strengthening LDCs resilience ultimately pave the road for a constructive decade that will witness at least half of the LDCs graduating, eventually leading towards a world without LDCs!

Thank you very much for your attention!