Retreat for Ambassadors of Landlocked Developing Countries

​Background

The Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), agreed in 2014, aims to address the development challenges faced by LLDCs, and identifies six priorities for action for LLDCs, transit countries and development partners. These six areas of focus are: Fundamental transit policy issues; Infrastructure development and maintenance; International trade and trade facilitation; Regional integration and cooperation; Structural economic transformation; and Means of implementation. Half-way into the implementation period of the Programme, the assessment of progress achieved is not encouraging. While several countries have made progress on individual action areas, such as the building of infrastructure and regional cooperation, the group of LLDCs has, as a whole, faced significant challenges.

Objectives

The General Assembly, in its resolution 72/232, decided to hold a comprehensive, high-level midterm review on the implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) (VPoA) in 2019. In preparation for the mid-term review, the Group of LLDCs suggested that UNCTAD host an Ambassadorial Retreat to address key substantive issues to be raised during the forthcoming mid-term review (MTR).

The objectives of the Ambassadorial Retreat are:

a) To take stock of progress in the implementation of the VPoA in key areas within UNCTAD’s mandates;
b) To share the results, findings and conclusions of UNCTAD’s work on LLDCs, including the Productive Capacities Index (PCI);
c) To inform Ambassadors on the outcomes of regional and sub-regional meetings organized by UNCTAD; and
d) To identify issues and concerns for further action by LLDCs and their development partners, in the context of the MTR and beyond.

Specific questions that the retreat is expected to address are as follows:

• Where do LLDCs stand now in relation with the key goals and objectives of the VPoA, especially on key priority areas within UNCTAD’s mandates?
• What are the most pressing (persistent and emerging) trade and development challenges facing LLDCs?
• How can LLDCs achieve export diversification for inclusive growth and sustainable development?
• What policies and strategies are needed for LLDCs to foster productive capacities and structural economic transformation?
• Where should policies and strategies, as well as international partnerships focus in addressing domestic gaps and limitation in LLDCs?