Chairperson,
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,

Let me express our appreciation to the United Nations, the European Union and the Belgian Government for organising and hosting the 3rd United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries.

As Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) South Africa would like to add its voice to those who have highlighted the importance of this Conference. Almost all the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are members of NAM. The majority of these are in Sub-Saharan Africa, constituting 10% of humanity. Their women bear children whom they cannot feed, clothe or send to school. They suffer the pain of watching helplessly their children dying of hunger, preventable or curable diseases like measles, malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS etc. They bear the agony of letting their young daughters go into prostitution because that is the only way of making a living. They allow their young boys to be child soldiers because that is the only way they can survive. They do not have access to water, fuel, shelter or food. They cannot read or write. They are stripped of human dignity by these de-humanising conditions.

This must surely be demoralising to all of us, and it must compel us to want not only to talk about it but also to do something about it.

Two UN Conferences on LDCs have been held, but the number of least developed countries as increased and their plight has worsened. They have become significantly poorer here as the developed countries have become much richer. Their indebtedness has increased and they are now locked in the debt trap. The majority of them did what they were advised to do, but they have nothing to show for it except worsening poverty.

The least developed countries present us with the biggest challenge of the 21st century.

Chairperson,

We feel very schizophrenic as we approach this conference. Schizophrenic because on the one hand we have a sense of despair and helplessness in view of the past and present circumstances and on the other hand with hope and determination because we can make a difference.

NAM has a sense of optimism because there are already signs of progress and hope. Democratic governments that are committed to the protection of human rights, good governance and people-centred development are on the increase amongst LDCs. This trend needs to be supported and encouraged.

A new corps of leaders has emerged who are committed to peace, security and the integration of their countries into the world economy. These leaders have through their actions declared that the hopes and aspirations of their people for a better life can no longer rest on the magnanimity of others.

These developments present a paradigm shift from the past where developing countries were told what to do and how to do it, and now they themselves are contributing to finding solutions to their problems.

Chairperson,

The key challenges facing the LDCs relate to their integration into the globalising world economy. Globalisation, while offering opportunities, continues to marginalise LDCs the majority of which are from Africa. It has also increased the social exclusion of the vast majority of their people, further perpetuating the imbalances within and among countries.

One of the major challenges facing LDCs today is that of inadequate financial resources to support sustainable development, as a result of low domestic savings, low levels of official and private financial resource flows to LDCs. We reiterate our appeal to donor countries to meet the international Official Development Assistance(ODA) commitment of contributing 0.2% of their GNP to LDCs.

In the increasingly globalising and knowledge driven economy, the volume and quality of human capital bears a high premium in increasing productivity and competitiveness. LDCs are disadvantaged by lack of access to basic education, primary health care, access to clean water and sanitation, adequate shelter and food security. All of these contribute to shortage of productive human capital. There is an urgent need for developed countries to honour their commitments in respect of skills and technology transfer and capacity building.

Despite the increase in global trade flows, as a result of globalisation, LDCs have not fully benefited from this upsurge. The NAM commends all duty and quota free access initiatives being offered to LDCs by major trading partners and we encourage the further expansion and broadening of these initiatives. However for LDCs to benefit from these initiatives it is important that they overcome their capacity constraints. We therefore call on the international community to provide support for the development of the productive capacities of LDCs. This would enable them to beneficial and diversify their economies and be in a better position to take advantage of market access opportunities.

It is accepted that LDCs have a comparative advantage in the agricultural sector. However the development of this sector has been stifled due to, inter ail, the use of export subsidies and other domestic support measures in developed countries. In this regard developed countries are urged to reduce the subsidies that distort world agricultural prices to the detriment of the development of LDCs.

Chairperson,

The provision of basic infrastructure is of strategic significance in accessing the vast resource base in many LDCs. Infrastructure remains underdeveloped in most LDCs, the quantity and quality of which has implications for the costs of goods and services. The ability to diversify economies is related to an efficient transport and logistical system, and social infrastructure. Developed partners need to assist with the development of basic infrastructure.

In addition, information and communication technologies hold the promise of enormous positive influence on all developing economies. The development of information and communication technologies should be considered an integral component of LDCs national development plans. To this end we recommend that the necessary economic, institutional, social, legal and fiscal environment be established to boost these technologies in our countries.

Chairperson,

The debt burden constitutes a major constraint on the development of the LDCs. Debt service payment remains a substantial item on the budgets of LDCs and consequently diverts scarce funds away from investment in key social sectors. We note the positive statements already made by some developed countries in this regard. We, however, call on developed countries to cancel all debt for LDCs.

It is also critical to halt, and to begin to reverse, the spread of HIV/AIDS in the coming decade. Prevention remains an important strategy to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS. This requires that specific attention be paid to sex education, breaking down the taboos and embark on strategies that will encourage safer sex practices. On their part, the international community should address the access and affordability of drugs for people living with HIV/AIDS. These should not only be limited to anti-retroviral drugs, but should also include those that treat opportunistic diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, pneumonia, meningitis etc.

The important link between development, poverty reduction and gender should be emphasised. We can never achieve full development unless women are empowered to take their rightful place in the process of sustainable development. Women remain the majority of the poor. Major obstacles remain to the fundamental mainstreaming of gender issues in national development strategies, programmes and resource allocation.

Chairperson,

The Non-Aligned Movement considers the integrated implementation of sustainable development, which includes the fulfilment of basic needs, sustained economic growth, social progress and environmental protection, to be central to the development of LDCs. To the extent that matters before this conference should have a positive impact on the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable development and must continue to advance practical effect to the objectives of sustainable development.

In addressing the development problems facing LDCs there is also an important role for South-South cooperation. There is scope for increased cooperation among developing countries to expand their trade and investment links. We however wish to underscore that the cooperation among developing countries should in no way diminish the special obligations of developed countries towards LDCs.

In conclusion,

History places a joint responsibility on all gathered here to ensure that we do not return in ten years, without achieving the targets which we have set ourselves. This again emphasises the need for a new partnership in order to integrate LDCs into global economy.

I thank you

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Updated: 05 April 2002