Maldives is committed to cooperate more closely with regional and international partners in the developing world in order to establish new partnership as well as to explore new and beneficial economic opportunities, says Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid.
FM Shahid reiterated this while delivering Maldives national statement at the ongoing Second High-Level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Emphasizing that much has changed in the developing world since the first UN High-Level Conference was held in 1978, Minister Shahid stated that Maldives had “traditionally” benefited greatly from North-South cooperation and development assistance.
FM Shahid stated this in reference to the help and endowments provided by the developed countries.
Cooperation between developing countries plays a significant role in global trade and especially in new markets. It also acts as an engine of growth for world economy, the Minister stated.
Due to its status as a higher middle-income country and after its graduation from the list of LDCs in 2011, Maldives must look towards new investment and trade opportunities in capacity building as well as through exchange of information and technology.
FM Shahid stated that Maldives will seek to take “full advantage” of the frameworks and platforms provided by the South-South and triangular cooperation to further its economic ambitions and comparative advantages in international trade, given the size and value of economic markets in the “Global South”.
During his visit FM Shahid is also scheduled to meet his counterparts on the sidelines of the conference. These meetings focus on discussions of important issues of mutual economic interest, the Ministry revealed on Thursday.
On the sidelines of his visit, FM Shahid met with a Thailand delegation, the head of South African delegation, Vice Prime Minister of Romania as well as President Kersti Kaljulaid of Estonia and the Vietnam Delegation at the UN Conference and many others.
While FM Shahid is being accompanied by Permanent Representative of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations Dr. Ali Naseer Mohamed and Ambassador of Maldives to Germany Ahmed Latheef, the conference is being held from 20-22 March 2019.
It marks the 40th anniversary of the UN Conference on Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries, which convened from 30 August to 12 September 1978, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
