Kazakhstan takes over chairmanship in the global Group of Landlocked Developing Countries

NEW YORK, January 7, 2020 – Kazakhstan assumed the chairmanship of the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) for the period 2020-2021. The Chairmanship hand-over ceremony was held at the UN Headquarters in New York with the participation of ambassadors and experts from UN Member States and H.E. Ms. Fekitamoeloa Utoikamanu, UN High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS).

The LLDCs Group includes 32 countries, including 16 countries representing the African continent, 10 – Asia (among them all five countries of Central Asia and Afghanistan), 4 - Europe and 2 - South America. Kazakhstan, being the largest landlocked country, is also located at the farthest distance from the oceans (about 3,750 km).

During the chairmanship Kazakhstan intends to actively contribute to the implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries (2014–2024) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals through the enhanced and coordinated cooperation of the Group with transit countries, UN agencies and other interested stakeholders on regional basis.

“In its capacity of the Chair, Kazakhstan will spare no effort to enhance cooperation between our Group and all interested parties, including UN agencies, international financial institutions, the private sector and academia,” said Kairat Umarov, Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the UN. He also thanked the Permanent Representative of Paraguay to the UN, Mr. Julio Cesar Arriola, who led the Group in the previous two years, for his significant work at this post.

Ms. Fekitamoeloa Utoikamanu in her speech emphasized that Kazakhstan has always taken an active position in promoting and protecting the interests of the LLDC Group. She also noted that with the support of the Government of Kazakhstan the Ministerial Meeting of the LLDCs on Trade will be held in June 2020 in Nur-Sultan within the framework of the 12^thMinisterial Conference of the World Trade Organization.

Kazakhstan was elected as the Chair of the Group during the annual Ministerial Meeting of the LLDC in New York on September 25, 2019.

Lack of territorial access to the sea, remoteness and isolation from world markets and high transit costs cause serious obstacles to the general social and economic development of landlocked countries. Their maritime trade is completely dependent on transit through other countries. Additional border crossings and a long distance from global markets significantly increase transport costs. Other major challenges facing LLDCs include poor infrastructure development, small economic markets, vulnerability to climate change, inadequate access to information and communication technologies, etc.