CALL FOR TRADE BETWEEN LANDLOCKED COUNTRIES
United Nations High Commission’s Representative and Under-Secretary- General Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, Rabab Fatima said high trade costs remain fundamental to integrating landlocked developing countries into global trade.
Speaking during the High-Level Africa Regional Review Meeting of the Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2014–2024 held in Botswana this week, Fatima pointed out that the world continues to fight against the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is further aggravated by the cascading and interlinked global crises, conflicts, and climate emergency.
“Major crises often generated new opportunities and innovative ideas. We should be able to utilize these difficult moments to mobilize further global support and solidarity to chart a transformative agenda for the LLDCs for the next decade.”
She pointed out LLDCs and their transit neighbours have made some progress in trade facilitation measures, such as establishment of one-stop border posts; coordinated border management; national single windows; and information portals.
The establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area ushered in a new era of hopes and aspirations for increased intra-regional trade. However, Fatima pointed out that despite these efforts LLDCs still face major challenges in their transport infrastructure, which is characterized by missing links and poor maintenance. “There are also pressing challenges in their efforts to improve energy infrastructure and access to energy.”
In his address, Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Molebatsi Molebatsi highlighted that whilst landlocked countries continue to make efforts towards achieving sustainable development, challenges remain. “Our countries are still marginalized from global trade due to their long distance to the sea, cumbersome transit challenges and limited transit infrastructure.”
He explained that as countries make efforts to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges that threaten to reverse the socio-economic gains made, landlocked countries need financing for better connectivity required implementing the Vienna Programme of Action and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. “Africa’s landlocked countries are locked out of global trade and the global response to COVID and climate change. There is need to work together to ensure overcoming of the common challenges we have.”