APA- Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) African leaders have called for increased technical and financial support to Landlocked Developing Countries (LDCs), currently experiencing economic and infrastructural challenges.
The leaders made the call during the high-level Africa regional review meeting of the Vienna Programme of Action (VPoA) for Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) which opened in Gaborone, capital of Botswana, ECA said on Tuesday in a statement.
Opening the meeting, Acting Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Antonio Pedro, said even though African LLDCs have made some notable development progress, it has not been substantial enough to reach the goals and targets set out in the VPoA.
“The limited progress made does not mean achievements should go unnoticed,” said Pedro citing the case that LLDs have improved access to electricity from 24 to 37 per cent between 2014 and 2020, and an economic growth forecasted at 5.3 per cent for 2023.
Pedro said work was underway to further unlock progress, including the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Successful implementation of the AfCFTA would allow for enhanced regional cooperation and economic integration on the continent and would directly address some of the challenges that LLDCs faced over the years – particularly regarding the reduction of transit costs,” he said, noting that peculiar challenges arising from lack of access to the sea, as well as inadequate transport infrastructure were some of the challenges faced by LLDCs.
According to Acting Executive Secretary , the challenges of a majority of African LLDCs were compounded by a recurrent incidence of conflicts, political instability and un-receding high levels of poverty and inequality.
“We will have to continue our critical work addressing the unique challenges facing LLDCs, and we must do so together,” Pedro told participants of the meeting.
Africa is home to 16 of the world’s 32 landlocked developing countries, 13 of which are also Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
Addressing the review meeting, High Representative and Under-Secretary- General LDC, LLDC and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Rabab Fatima, said the United Nations General Assembly has adopted an ambitious ‘Call for action to accelerate the implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action’ to help LLDCs effectively implement the VPoA and achieve sustainable development.
“Clearly, the targets and aspirations of the VPOA, the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 are far off-track, Fatima noted, adding that, “We must double-pace our efforts to turn things around. The 3rd LLDCs Conference provides us with an opportunity to do that.”
Fatima further said Africa must leverage the once-in-a-decade opportunity of the 3rd LLDC conference to mobilize global support and solidarity to strengthen partnerships to transform the lives and livelihoods of 533 million people in 32 landlocked countries.
The two-day meeting being held under the theme, “From Vienna to Kigali: towards a new decade of partnerships for a transformative Programme of Action for LLDCs’ ‘ will review the implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action in Africa.
MG/abj/APA