Statement by India at the High-level segment of the Trade and Development Board Seventy-second Session delivered by
Mr. Pawankumar Badhe, First Secretary
(Geneva 21st October 2022)
President of the TDB Ambassador Hasans,
UNCTAD Secretary General Madam Grynspan,
Distinguished panelists,
Excellencies and colleagues,
India aligns itself with the statements delivered by Philippines on behalf of the Asia Pacific Group, and by Zimbabwe on behalf of G-77 and China. We thank Secretary General Grynspan for her leadership, and focus on the Bridgetown Covenant and the four transformations to achieve the 2030 Agenda.
Mr. President,
2. We are at a juncture today when the pandemic is not yet over, and we are faced with other serious challenges, including the Ukraine conflict. Rising costs and shortages of fuel, food, and fertilizers, along with trade disruptions, are impacting every part of the world, developing countries even more so. In this context, the theme of this High-Level Segment is important and timely, and we thank the distinguished panelists for their valuable insights.
3. The sharing of technology and experiences is a critical pathway to an accelerated move towards achieving SDGs and tackling current challenges. In India, digital innovations and technology were central in our response to the pandemic. India’s development model includes an expansive digital public infrastructure designed with the philosophy of “leaving no one behind”, and India is ready to share our experiences with the global community.
4. The multiple global crises have not only caused a setback to economic growth but have also exposed the debt accumulation in some fragile economies. India has responded by supplying foodgrains, vaccines, medicines, and other essential supplies, including as grant assistance, to Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Yemen and several countries in Africa. India has been reiterating that financial prudence, transparency, and viability are critical to financing options, including for infrastructure projects, to avoid imposing further unsustainable debt burdens on already vulnerable economies and communities. It is equally important for project sustainability that they be accompanied by skill and technology transfer.
Mr. President,
5. Global action to address climate change will need deepening of partnerships, especially in technology, innovation, and financial flows. India remains deeply committed to the UNFCCC, the Paris Agreement, and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different national circumstances. India has updated its Nationally Determined Contributions after COP26, and we look forward to further constructive discussions during COP27 next month, where Egypt has set a priority on climate finance.
6. India has taken initiatives like the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and the "Infrastructure for Resilient Island States" initiative. The "Lifestyle for Environment” or LiFE initiative, declared by Prime Minister Modi on the sidelines of COP26, is another important priority. In fact, just yesterday in India, Prime Minister Modi and the UNSG Mr. Guterres launched the LiFE Mission as a global movement to safeguard against climate change.
7. In this context, a global Net-Zero should be based on the principles of common but differentiated responsibility, and equity, where developing countries will be peaking later, given their respective sustainable development paths. So, to vacate the carbon space in 2050 for developing countries to grow, developed countries should, in fact, do Net-Minus. If developed countries only do individual Net-Zeros, we are, in fact, moving farther away from achieving the Paris targets. Therefore, it is time to get serious about meeting our commitments, and it may be recalled that there still exists a large gap to fulfil the 100 billion US dollars commitment made by developed countries.
Mr. President,
8. In these times of multiple challenges, the global South has shown a strong spirit of solidarity, backstopping its decline on the development curve with South-South cooperation. For India, support to fellow developing countries, including by sharing our developmental experience, is an article of faith.
Mr. President, the road to sustainable recovery will need our collective action.
I thank you.
