Mr President,

On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, I would like to thank you for opening statement which sets the tone and establishes the focus for this debate.

I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his the third consolidated report on progress in implementation and international support for the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) issued in document A/60/178. For the G77 and China, the discussion this morning is a necessary continuation of the focus on the special needs of Africa. These are critical times for the people of the Continent but we are seeing positive signs of hope.

Several reports considered during the course of this year, in particular the Millennium Project Report and the Report of the Commission on Africa, have focussed on ways to generate a new momentum for development in Africa. Important decisions have been taken, and specific commitments have been made to mobilise resources for Africa’s development. If these are pursued and fulfilled the prospects for the future will be brighter.

Overall Assessment

Mr President,

From the Secretary-General’s Report we can see that there have been positive developments in the implementation of the NEPAD. The Report provides detailed examples of the progress made in the areas of agriculture, health, education, infrastructure and information and communication technology. We are convinced that there is great scope to build on these gains.

Resources

However, progress continues to be constrained by several factors. The first concerns the issue of resources. The needs are substantial for the building of the social and economic infrastructure. For example paragraph 15 draws attention to the lack of skilled human resources in the health sector and the particular challenge that this imposes on African countries where health professionals are leaving for better opportunities in developed countries. The solution to this ever-growing problem requires coordinated action on the part of both the African and recipient states.

Similarly, and in view of the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis on the socio-economic development of the Continent, substantial resources are needed to support efforts to respond effectively to these pandemics. The 2005 World Summit Outcome reaffirms some important avenues through which this can be advanced to ensure increased bilateral and multilateral assistance to strengthen African health systems. We continue to call for more affordable and accessible supply of drugs to be made available to Africa.

With respect to ODA, the trend has been towards an increase in the volume of ODA to African since 2002. The recent EU commitment to establishing timetables to attain the target of 0.7 per cent of GNI for ODA to developing countries and to doubling aid to Africa by 2010 are positive developments which we welcome. There is, however, still cause for concern. Paragraph 38 identifies the need for a greater volume of resources to be channelled to the leading programmes and sectors of NEPAD and for greater attention to be given to increasing budgetary support for development. There is also need for continuing efforts to improve the quality and effectiveness of aid, with the full involvement of both donor and recipient countries.

Another area requiring particular attention is that of FDI flows to Africa. Despite increases in FDI from $15 billion in 2003 to $20 billion in 2004, Africa’s share in global foreign direct investment flows remain at only 3 per cent. We believe there is need for more creative initiatives and greater efforts in capacity-building and infrastructural development in order to increase FDI to African countries. We look forward to good results from on ongoing discussions on the proposal to create an Investment Climate Facility for Africa, which has been endorsed by the NEPAD secretariat and major multilateral and bilateral donor agencies.

On debt, the position of the G77 and China is well-known. Debt relief measures should be additional to ODA resources for development purposes and should be all encompassing so that all heavily indebted developing countries can benefit appropriately.

With respect to trade, the forthcoming WTO Ministerial Meeting provides an important opportunity for significant decisions to be taken to reform the trading system to provide better opportunities for trade to contribute to long-term growth and development for Africa. We expect that every effort will be made so that the development dimensions of the Doha Work Programme can be truly realised.

The role of the UN

Paragraph 56 of the Secretary-General’s Report correctly points to the need for greater coordination within the UN system in supporting the implementation of the NEPAD. This is one area in which greater efforts will have to be made. We therefore support the proposals advanced to improve coordination between the UN and the African Union in order to enhance collaboration and coherence within the UN system in support of NEPAD.

Implementation

Our commitments made in support of the NEPAD should be honoured. The Report identifies this has one of the major challenges in ensuring the timely and effective implementation of the NEPAD in a manner which will generate significant results for Africa. In the process, we particularly wish to caution against the imposition of restrictive conditionalities in economic cooperation programmes. The design of such programmes should be in accordance with the priorities and strategies determined by each State and suitably adapted to each particular institutional and cultural environment. It is important that these are applied on the basis of national ownership for maximum benefit to flow in the process of implementation.

Thank you, Mr. President