Statement of Mr. Md. Faruk Hossain, Minister, Bangladesh Permanent Mission to the UN at the Eighth multi-stakeholder forum on science, technology, and innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (Theme: Science, technology, and innovation for building back better from COVID-19 while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels), New York, 03 May 2023

Mr. Chair, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

At the outset, we would like to commend the President of the ECOSOC for convening 8th multi-stakeholder forum on STI the and the two co-facilitators- Ambassadors of South Africa and the United Kingdom Ambassador to ECOSOC for their contribution to successful organization of the forum.

Bangladesh aligns itself with the statement made by Cuba on behalf of G77 and China and Nepal on behalf of the LDC Group.

Mr. Chair.

In today’s extremely challenging global context, achieving sustainable development goals has become increasingly difficult and complex. The poly crises- the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the existing climate crisis and growing inequality- have either slowed or reversed SDG progress. Yet, these crises underline the need for a long-term focus on resilient, sustainable and inclusive development.

Digital technologies played a critical role in mitigating the impacts of the pandemic. During the pandemic, technology and digital services enabled continuity of businesses, financial transactions, information dissemination, education, and medical response during the pandemic,

Indeed, the pandemic reinforced the new and evolving roles of ICT and STI in our societies.

Mr Chair,

While digital technologies brought multiple benefits and enhanced inclusion, they also deepened inequalities and exclusion across and within countries. Many developing countries, especially the LDCs, paid a high cost of exclusion, failing to access or use these technologies. They became mainly users and data providers rather than participating productively in the global digital value chains.

Science, technology and innovation are key to sustainable industrial transformation. Developing countries, particularly the LDCs, need industrial transformation through technological change and innovation to accelerate economic growth and sustainable recovery. Unfortunately, they face multiple barriers in harnessing technology to drive innovation. They lack resources to transition their traditional labor-intensive economies to modern, high-tech, technology driven ones, facilitated by high investment in R&D.

In view of the above, we would like to make the following points.

First,

The technological divides between the developed and the developing countries must be addressed through international cooperation. Developing countries will need access to, and capacities for, various new technologies to compete in and benefit from the increasingly complex technological landscape. Effective channels for technology transfer, particularly those related to sustainable development, green and low-carbon technologies, capacity-building, and assistance in research and development, are essential.

Second,

The new AI and data-driven wave of frontier technologies hold enormous economic potential. Countries in the global South would need investment in digital infrastructure, affordable internet access, and digital skills development to benefit from the trillion dollars Industry 4.0. More efforts and policy interventions are needed at the national and international levels to harness these technologies and mobilize the financing and capacity-building required for an equitable digital economic transformation.

Third,

The world needs to use scientific innovation and technological intervention to address the climate crisis and other environmental challenges humanity faces. Transitioning to green technologies can help industries and societies offset carbon emissions, limit the scale of climate change and mitigate already-occurring impacts. Tech providers and businesses have responsibilities for minimizing the negative environmental impacts of digital infrastructure, devices and services, to “green the Internet” and new technologies in the future.

Finally, South-South and Triangular Cooperation can play a vital and complementary role in facilitating access to technology and equitable distribution of the benefits of a digital transformation. Many technological innovations are now taking place in the countries of the Global South. The economies of these countries have benefited enormously by harnessing science and technology to spur economic growth and sustainability. Exchange of knowledge, experiences and best practices through effective South South and Triangular cooperation can help find innovative technological solutions to advance sustainable development.

I thank you.