Madame Chair, Minister Sandra Husbands of Barbados,
Secretary-General of UNCTAD Ms. Rebeca Grynspan,
Distinguished Ministers of the Group of 77,
Chairs of G77 Chapters,
Executive Secretary,
Excellencies and Distinguished Delegates,

1. I have the honor in my capacity as Chair of the Group of 77 to address this opening ceremony meeting of the G-77 Ministerial Meeting in preparation for UNCTAD 15.

Madame Chair,

2. As you are aware, our G-77 Foreign Ministers meet on an annual basis in New York in order to address various development issues of interest to our countries. Today's Ministerial Meeting in preparation for UNCTAD 15 has a special significance due to the historic links that binds it with our Group since 1964, at the same Palais des Nations from where this meeting is being conducted today in virtual format.

3. In fact, the common objectives of our countries to achieve a better world inspired G-77 delegations to come together in the Palais des Nations in 1964 for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, without knowing that this gathering would result in the establishment of the UNCTAD quadrennial Conference, the creation of the UNCTAD secretariat and the establishment of the Group of 77 itself.

4. As the draft Bridgetown Ministerial Declaration being adopted at this meeting outlines, the forthcoming 60th anniversary of UNCTAD, and of the Group of 77, offers an opportunity to take stock and look back to move ahead. The Covid-19 pandemic has shown that the fairer world that both UNCTAD and our Group were created to help achieve, continue to be elusive. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the normal functioning of open markets, global supply chain connectivity and the flow of essential goods, and these disruptions hinder the fight against poverty, hunger and inequality, ultimately undermining efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda. It is therefore clear that we need to do more, and we need to do more better and together.

5. Therefore, as we look to the many vulnerabilities and inequalities that plague our world, which are the focus of the UNCTAD 15 Conference, we should reaffirm the spirit of solidarity that unites our Group, and work together to reinvigorate our role, and that of UNCTAD as the focal point within the United Nations system for the integrated treatment of trade and development and interrelated issues in the areas of finance, technology, investment and sustainable development, and in contributing to supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, to carry our voice within the United Nations and beyond.

Madame Chair,
Honourable Ministers,
Chairs of G77 Chapters,
Executive Secretary
Excellencies and Distinguished Delegates,

6. Let me, in conclusion, congratulate our Group in Geneva for all the excellent preparatory work for this conference, and to welcome the proposals and ideas put forward by the draft Bridgetown Ministerial Declaration. Let me take this opportunity also to offer the continued leadership of the Group of 77 in New York as the natural center of gravity of our Group. We remain committed to supporting UNCTAD as the major UN voice for the South and to fulfill its mandate as envisaged by our Group in the Joint Declaration of 15 June 1964 following the conclusion of the first session of UNCTAD, which was in turn followed by the adoption of the Charter of Algiers adopted at the First Ministerial Meeting of the Group of 77, held in Algiers, Algeria in October 1967.

7. Let me also, on behalf of all G-77 delegations and on my own behalf, convey to you, Madame Chair, our sincere appreciation to the people and Government of Barbados for hosting UNCTAD 15 and for your commitment to the causes of our Group. We look forward to the successful outcome of UNCTAD 15 and be assured that the Group of 77 in New York is committed to ensuring effective implementation of the outcome in close collaboration with the Group of 77 in Geneva and other G-77 Chapters.

Thank you.