TMB Report
Imphal: Minister of State (MoS) for the Ministry of External Affairs, Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh embarked on a visit to Doha, Qatar, to attend the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) from March 6 to 7.
Qatar is hosting the conference from March 5–9, 2023. As per the information provided by the Ministry of External Affairs, on March 6, the Union Minister delivered India’s National Statement and attended as a panelist at the Round Table titled “Leveraging the power of Science and Technology and innovation for the sustainable development of LDCs”.
On March 7, the Union Minister is also scheduled to participate in the Ministerial Meeting of South-South Cooperation on the topic of “Renewed Partnerships for actionable solutions in support of the implementation of the Doha Programme of Action.”
The 5-day conference, with the motto “From Potential to Prosperity” will witness various world leaders, the private sector, civil society, parliamentarians, and young people.
Further, the conference will provide a platform to advance new ideas, raise new pledges of support, and spur the delivery on agreed commitments through the Doha Programme of Action.
The conference is divided into two parts. The first part of the conference took place on March 17, 2022, in New York and led to the adoption of the Doha Programme of Action. The second part or the main conference will take place in Doha, Qatar, on March 5–9.
The leaders participating in the 5th Least Developed Countries Conference will undertake a comprehensive appraisal of the implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries (IPoA) along with mobilizing additional support measures and taking action in favor of LDCs.
In addition, the leaders will agree on a renewed partnership between LDCs and their development partners to overcome structural challenges, eradicate poverty, achieve internationally agreed development goals, and enable graduation from the LDC category.
India has consistently been a leading voice for the least developed nations. The nation has addressed the problems faced by the developing and underdeveloped world to the United Nations and other international forums. India has taken the initiative to organize the “Voice of Global South Summit,” which is another demonstration of its dedication to developing and underdeveloped nations.
One can also see this from India’s current G20 presidency, which has brought up issues affecting developing and emerging nations on a number of platforms so that concrete actions can be taken to provide solutions.
In addition, it is vital to remember that 13 percent of the world’s population lives in LDCs, which are home to 40 percent of the world’s poor, and that the full realization of the SDGs depends greatly on their development.
Although having a vast population, they only contribute 1.35 percent of global trade and FDI, which is a very low percentage. There are now 46 LDCs, the majority of which are in Africa, according to the United Nations. Moreover, MoS Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh will meet with his counterparts on a number of bilateral engagements, particularly those from LDCs.
The Union Minister is also set to meet with representatives from African nations and engage with the Indian diaspora.
