UNCTAD16 South-South cooperation forum

Excellencies,

Distinguished delegates,

Dear panellists,

Ladies and gentlemen,

First, I want to apologize for being late to the event. But it is now my pleasure to warmly welcome you to this important Forum; a space for dialogue, collaboration and discussions on progress of South-South cooperation.

South-South cooperation stands as a testament to solidarity, resilience and shared purpose among developing countries. Also, the very establishment of UNCTAD, six decades ago, was born out of this spirit.

The Global South has demonstrated its central place in the global economy as it responded with resilience and determination in the face of recent global crises - from the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change to geopolitical shifts and rapid technological change.

Today, the Global South represents around 40% of global economic output- a remarkable shift in the global economic balance. 

Since 1964, the share of developing countries in world merchandise trade has more than doubled, with South-South trade growing faster than North-South trade.  

South-South and trilateral cooperation are not just new modalities—they are central pillars of the future of international cooperation.

Rooted in principles of respect for national sovereignty, equality, non-conditionality and mutual benefit, South-South cooperation has flourished over the decades. Its expansion has played a vital role for the rise of the Global South.

Yet, it is unclear whether these developments have effectively addressed persistent barriers to structural transformation in many developing countries. The most vulnerable among them still face multiple external constraints to pursue development-oriented policies and improve their prospects.

UNCTAD 16 offers a timely opportunity to reflect on the evolution and achievements of South-South cooperation, and chart its future course.

Excellencies,

Distinguished delegates and panellists,

UNCTAD has long played a vital role in advancing South-South Cooperation. We are proud of our work in providing a unique platform for developing countries to advance South-South trade and help them diversify their economies.

One such scheme is the Global System of Trade Preferences among developing countries - the GSTP, which was launched in UNCTAD in the 1980s. The GSTP offers participating countries an opportunity to enhance market access and stimulate trade by leveraging preferential treatment.

We are also key supporters for measuring South-South cooperation. For too long, the contribution of South-South cooperation for sustainable and inclusive development has remained largely invisible due to a lack of reliable data. This began to change with the adoption of SDG indicator 17.3.1 by the UN Statistical Commission in 2022, and the development of a Conceptual Framework for the Measurement of South-South cooperation, agreed upon by the countries of the Global South.

UNCTAD was entrusted with testing this Framework, building national capacities and enabling the reporting of data globally.

This year marks a breakthrough: Five countries have submitted the first ever South-South cooperation data using the Framework, and ten more are pilot testing it.

In response to countries’ requests, UNCTAD and its partners launched the Sevilla Plan of Action initiative to establish a community of practice. We are proud to announce today the launch of a South-South Data Fund - a mechanism for mutual support and advance this shared initiative. It will ensure that South-South cooperation is visible and treated as a strategic resource.

As UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, emphasised on this year’s United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation: It is time to “celebrate the growing momentum of opportunity, innovation and solidarity across the Global South”. He added that “South-South and triangular cooperation are engines of progress and vital to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Yet we also recognize the responsibilities of developed countries to help address rising inequalities and advance sustainable development.”

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Let this Forum be a space for bold thinking and collaborative solutions.

I look forward to the insights that will guide us towards more cooperation to build a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Thank you.