Minister Shahid returns after concluding visit to Argentina

Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid concluded his visit to Argentina on Sunday, after attending the Second High Level UN Conference on South-South Cooperation.

The minister departed to Buenos Aires on March 18.

Minister Shahid delivered a statement at the conference on Friday, where he highlighted that “much has changed in the developing world” since the first UN High Level Conference on South South Cooperation held in 1978.

He noted that “cooperation between developing countries act as an engine of growth for world economy, playing an increasingly significant role in global trade, especially in new and emerging markets.”

Further noting that the Maldives “had traditionally benefited immensely from North-South cooperation and development assistance, referring to the assistance and grants provided by the developed countries,” the minister emphasized that Maldives “must look towards new opportunities for investment and trade, in building capacity, and through exchange of information and technology” after graduating from the list of LDCs in 2011, and due to its status as a higher Middle Income Country.

Just as he highlighted during his address at the 40th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Shahid also reiterated “the new commitment of the Maldives to cooperate more closely with regional and international partners in the developing world, to establish new partnerships and to explore new economic opportunities that would be beneficial to the Maldives.”

During his visit to Argentina, Minister Shahid also conducted a number of bilateral meetings with his counterparts on the sidelines of the conference.

The Second High-Level UN Conference on South South Cooperation was held from 20th to 22nd March.