Bangladesh, Nepal and Lao meet in Bangkok to make graduation smooth and sustainable

Government officials and representatives from the private sector, academia, research institutes, and civil society from Bangladesh, Lao PDR and Nepal, alongside the UN, on Tuesday (Aug 23) began a meeting in Bangkok for preparing smooth transition strategy to make graduation smooth and sustainable from the LDC category.

The three-day event during Aug 23-25 is organised by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

(UNOHRLLS), United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) together with the Offices of the UN Resident Coordinators (UNRCO) of Bangladesh, Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) and Nepal.

This initiative is part of the on-going support by the UN Development System for Bangladesh, Lao PDR, and Nepal as the only three countries recommended by the UN Committee for Development Policy (CDP) for graduation during the ongoing global pandemic in February 2021, said the UN Information Centre, Dhaka on Tuesday.

The Bangladesh Delegation, led by Ms. Sharifa Khan, Secretary, Economic Relations Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance, comprises LDC focal points from the Ministries of Commerce, Industries, Finance, Environment, along with PMO, BIDA, and NBR.

Representatives from civil society and local think-tanks are also participating. The delegation is accompanied by the representatives from the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator, led by Ms. Gwyn Lewis, the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh.

Ms. Rabab Fatima, Under Secretary General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States lauded this collaboration between three graduating LDCs facilitated by UN agencies.

She said, “The compounded impact of multiple crises – such as COVID-19, growing food and commodity prices and the climate emergency – put development progress in the Least Developed Countries at risk. We are coming together to provide a better coordinated United Nations support. Our aim is to lessen the burden on each government’s capacity and catalyse sustainable progress”.

The head of Bangladesh delegation Ms. Sharifa Khan said that “The Government has taken a three-pronged approach to make graduation smooth and sustainable - ensuring the best utilization of the international support mechanisms(ISM) during the remaining preparatory period, adopting necessary policies, strategies, and measures to enhance productivity and remain competitive in the post-LDC regime, and advocating alongside other LDCs for extending the ISMs temporarily beyond graduation.”

Ms. Gwyn Lewis, UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh emphasized the importance of LDC graduation as an opportunity for more inclusive policy regimes. She said, “STS is an opportunity for long-term thinking on issues of improved compliance with international standards in terms of labour rights, good governance, environment, and human rights.”

The event will provide an opportunity for the three countries to learn from each other and discuss the challenges, opportunities and needs associated with LDC graduation in a post-pandemic world of massive uncertainties.