I thank you, Beatte, for your excellent moderation of the panel discussion. I thank our distinguished panelists for their rich inputs to this highly topical and timely issue. We were also happy to have with us other LDC members, as well as the co-chair of the Group of Friends of LDCs. Your insights, ideas and recommendations are very important to our preparations for LDC-V, where we expect to have a comprehensive blueprint to build back better, smarter and resilient economies in the LDCs, and to accelerate the implementation of 2030 agenda.
A summary of the discussion will be shared, I believe, shortly by the organizers.
Let me highlight a few specific points, some of my take aways and messages from the discussion:
First, there is a need to realign public and private financing priorities to incentivize creation of better jobs, especially for people in vulnerable situations. International cooperation in this regard is critical;
Second, we need to scale up social protection to support workers in informal sectors;
Third, we need to unlock the untapped potentials of global value chains for enhancing trade and investment, including by supporting capacity building for the LDCs. And this could also be done by taking advantage of the evolving digital economy;
Fourth, ensuring equal access to job and economic opportunities for women;
Fifth, leveraging STI and digitization for reducing gaps in skills set;
Sixth, we need to give special attentions to climate vulnerable and conflict affected LDCs;
Finally, I would like to highlight one area, which has not come up so much in the discussions, but which is very important, and that is, ensuring international support measures for migrant workers to cope with the COVID-19 job market and beyond. The adverse impact of international labour market on many of the LDCs is well recognized and documented.
Let me thank once again, ILO and OHRLLS for organizing today’s meeting. We look forward to our continued engagement with you.
I thank Ambassador Alya Al Thani of Qatar once again for hosting the LDC-5.
I wish to thank you in particular, Beatte for putting together today’s meeting. I look foward to working with you in the coming days on more such important initiatives. Finally, I wish to thank all of you who atended today’s event and have made very important contribution to the discussion on this important topic.
We will count on your support and participation in our preparation leading to Doha, in January 2022.
Thank you all; stay safe; stay well!
This meeting is adjourned.