PH Permanent Representative to UN and UNCTAD Secretary-General Discuss Development Issues
Ambassador Evan P. Garcia (left), Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN and Other International Organizations in Geneva, and Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi (right), Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
20 April 2017 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Evan P. Garcia called on Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi at the Palais des Nations on April 19.
During the call, Ambassador Garcia highlighted “the continuing relevance of UNCTAD to the cause of development, especially in light of the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
“UNCTAD has an indispensable role in shaping the global dialogue on development given the ever changing conditions of the global economy,” said Ambassador Garcia.
He pointed out that UNCTAD’s technical cooperation projects contributed to the country’s economic growth, which has only continued to expand under the Administration of President Rodrigo Duterte and the comprehensive 10-Point Economic Agenda. Ambassador Garcia also mentioned that as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the year 2017, the Philippines looks forward to stronger cooperation between UNCTAD and ASEAN.
Secretary-General Kituyi meanwhile welcomed the efforts of the Philippines in promoting development especially during its chairmanship of the Geneva Chapter of the Group of 77 and China in 2015. He said that UNCTAD would pursue “inclusive prosperity in cooperation with developing countries like the Philippines.” He emphasized that UNCTAD will work with the Philippines so that the country can achieve the 17 goals and 169 targets in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
UNCTAD was founded in 1964 with the avowed goal of achieving prosperity for all. It functions based on the three pillars of consensus building on the crucial development issues of the day, research and analysis, and technical cooperation.
Its research and analysis work is utilized by all UN member States as a guide in crafting their respective development policies, especially its annual publications including the World Investment Report and the Trade and Development Report. Meanwhile it also conducts technical cooperation projects with countries like the Philippines in various trade and development areas such as the training it provides on port management, debt management, and customs data utilized by various Philippine government agencies such as at the Bureau of Customs and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, to name a few. END
Ambassador Evan P. Garcia (left), Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN and Other International Organizations in Geneva, and Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi (right), Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).