14 Oct 2024

Botswana will host the third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3), in Gaborone, December 10-13.

A media statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that the LLDC Conferences are convened every 10 years to adopt a decade-long programme of action, that addresses the challenges and development needs of landlocked developing countries as well as explore ways of strengthening partnerships among these countries.

The Group of Landlocked Countries constitutes 32 countries situated in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America.

The first LLDC Conference, according to the press statement was held in 2003 in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and it adopted the Almaty Programme of Action, (2003-2013), the second Conference took place in 2014 in Vienna, Austria, and it adopted the Vienna Programme of Action.

The third LLDC Conference will be held under the theme: Driving Progress Through Partnerships.  The release says the conference will among others, deliberate on the new development agenda of landlocked countries, and will cover key areas such as infrastructure development; transit policy issues, international trade and trade facilitation.

“Accordingly, the LLDC3 is expected to adopt the Gaborone Programme of Action (2024-2034), the successor to the Vienna Programme of Action (2014-2024).”

The release says Botswana currently serves as the Global Chair of the LLDC Group, having assumed this leadership role in 2022. The country’s tenure as chair will conclude in December.

Therefore, as host of the third conference, the release further says, Botswana will realise a key milestone as this will be the first time that a UN meeting of this nature is hosted and chaired by an African country.

It further says this is a testament of the great value that Botswana attaches to multilateralism and global cooperation in promoting and addressing the interests of landlocked developing countries.

“The Conference will bring together an estimated 4 000 delegates comprising heads of state, government ministers, senior government officials, representatives from UN Member States Permanent Missions accredited to UN Offices in New York and Geneva, heads of International Organisations and United Nations Agencies as well as observers.”

The Conference will also include side forums for parliamentarians, civil society, youth, women leaders, and the private sector. Ends