The 10th Ministerial Conference of the LDCs presents a historical moment for UNIDO, as it is organized after the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5), which adopted the Doha Programme of Action (DPoA) for the LDCs 2022-2031.
This year’s conference, co-organized by UNCTAD, will focus on Fair Globalization: Innovative Solutions for LDCs’ Industrialization and Structural Transformation and is aligned with the six DPoA priority areas:
- Investing in people.
- Leveraging the power of science, technology, and innovation.
- Supporting structural transformation.
- Enhancing international trade.
- Addressing climate change.
- Mobilizing international solidarity.
The DPoA recognizes that without structural transformation and prioritizing industrialization and economic diversification, to address institutional and capacity issues, LDCs will remain vulnerable to various socio-economic, health and environmental shocks. The conference aims to strengthen stakeholder commitment towards the DPoA implementation, by mobilizing key partners contributing to the LDCs’ structural transformation and industrialization.
Additionally, the DPoA also raised concerns about LDCs’ debt level and their capacity to overcome this burden. In this regard, enhancing sustainable upstream and downstream debt management as an integral part of national development strategies and policies, including by promoting transparent and accountable debt management systems, will be discussed as a transversal matter.
This issue is discussed extensively in UNCTAD’s The Least Developed Countries Report 2023.
The Conference is expected to adopt a Ministerial Declaration and the UNIDO Operational Strategy for the Least Developed Countries 2022–2031.
It is also expected to reinforce political commitments towards the DPoA at a ministerial level, with acknowledgement of inclusive and sustainable industrial development as a driver of prosperity and sustainable graduation of LDCs; build result-oriented and innovative global and regional partnerships, including through enhanced future joint initiatives by the conference co-organizers, to accelerate the implementation of SDG9 and the graduation process of LDCs; and promote high-level exchanges on best policy practices to overcome challenges associated with the graduation process and achieving the DPoA targets.
The Conference will bring together ministers from capitals, Permanent Missions based in Vienna, Berlin and Geneva, senior officials from ministries in charge of industrialization and economic diversification, development financial institutions, international investors, investment and export promotion agencies, media houses, and centers of excellence.
Speakers will include ministers and high-level officials from the 46 LDCs, heads of regional and continental intergovernmental institutions, principals of United Nations entities and other international organizations, high-level business representatives including industrialists and investors, multinational companies, SMEs and start-ups, private sector associations and foundations, as well as experts in specific thematic areas of the Ministerial Conference.
10th Ministerial Conference of the Least Developed Countries, 24-25 November 2023, UNIDO Headquarters in Vienna
