Genuine global partnerships vital to overcome challenges of LDCs: MoPD Minister

Addis Ababa, March 7, 2023 (FBC) – At the ongoing Fifth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in Doha, Fitsum Aseffa, Ethiopia’s Minister of Planning and Development, emphasized the need to carve new pathways to address the developmental quest of the LDCs.

Fistum stated that the global economic and financial system currently in place has failed to deliver a meaningful response thus far. She also noted that the LDCs continue to exert efforts both to cushion the effects of global instability and sustain their hard-won development gains.

The Minister further underscored that commitments made to create level ground for the integration of LDCs into global markets didn’t yield much result. She emphasized the urgent need to free more resources for development finance through granting debt relief.

Sharing Ethiopia’s successful experience in agricultural reform, she said the significant increase in wheat production as well as the Green Legacy Initiative is among many good examples of what LDCs can achieve when they focus on their endowments and adopt the right priorities.

The Minister concluded by asserting Ethiopia’s commitment to continue to pursue a pro-poor policy path in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Agenda 2063 of the African Union, and the Doha Program of Action.