Thirty-eighth session of the commission-conference of African ministers of finance, planning and economic development: statement by Anwarul K. Chowdhury united nations under-secretary-general and high representative

Abstract

This Statement delivered by Anwarul K. Chowdhury United Nations Under-Secretary-General and High Representative at the Thirty-eighth session of the Commission/Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. Mr. Chowdhury, on his remarks highlighted that, Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) remains a daunting challenge for many Least Developed Countries (LDCs), including 34 LDCs in Africa. Recent reports of the United Nations Secretary-General suggest that despite significant progress of some LDCs on separate goals and targets the overall progress of the LDCs group on MDGs has been extremely slow. The upcoming 2005 High-Level Plenary of the General Assembly on the review of the outcomes of the Millennium Declaration provides us with an opportunity to prepare thoroughly and comprehensively for the midterm review of the Brussels Programme to be held, pursuant to General Assembly resolution in 2006. Given increased attention to remittances and as a follow-up to the ECOSOC high-level segment, Benin, as the Chair of the LDCs group has proposed to organize the Ministerial conference of the LDCs on workers remittances. We would be certainly interested in organizing such a conference, in collaboration with the International Organization of Migration, if you support this proposal.