Welcome to the United Nations
On 30th November 2017, the Global South-South Development Expo (GSSD EXPO) 2017 wrapped up in Antalya, Turkey, with delegates from dozens of countries, key international organizations, and United Nations agencies reaffirming their commitment to strengthen partnership and South-South cooperation that offer enormous opportunities and potential to effectively support the most vulnerable countries in accelerating progress in achieving the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The theme to this year's Expo is "South-South Cooperation in the Era of Economic, Social and Environmental Transformation: The Road to the 40th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action (BAPA+40)".
Fekitamoeloa Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) addressed the opening ceremony on Monday.
“The central promise of the 2030 Agenda is to 'leave no-one behind,' and thus is about addressing poverty, reducing inequality and building a sustainable future of shared prosperity,” explained Ms. Utoikamanu. “But it is already clear that these noble Goals will be elusive if the 91 countries my Office is a voice for remain at the bottom of the development ladder.”
As such, South-South collaboration has led to increasing trade between and with emerging economies, investors, providers of development cooperation and sources of technological innovations. she advocates on behalf of 10 billion people in the world's most vulnerable countries.
This week's gathering focused on a number of issues, including climate change partnerships; peacebuilding; private sector engagement; science, technology and innovation; public service innovation; big data; youth employment and skills development; and women’s empowerment.
“The advantage and beauty of South-South cooperation is that this modality of international relations relies on solidarity expressed in concrete and demonstrable sharing of technical know-how, experience and resources among developing countries,” said Jorge Chediek, the Secretary-General’s Envoy on South-South Cooperation and Director of the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC).
Six publications were launched during the Expo, and over 90 institutional and individual partners expressed interest in nine initiatives covering issues that range from youth empowerment to rural development.
Source: UN News Centre