UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3)

The Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) has recently opened in Awaza, Turkmenistan. This conference, held once every ten years, draws global attention to the 32 landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), which collectively house over 600 million people. The primary aim of this conference is to facilitate international coordination in overcoming the persistent challenges these countries face, particularly related to trade, infrastructure, and economic diversification.

Objectives of the LLDC3 Conference

The LLDC3 conference seeks to address and resolve the various structural challenges that landlocked countries experience due to their lack of direct access to seaports. The core challenges faced by LLDCs include:

• Barriers to Trade: Without access to seaports, landlocked countries face higher transportation costs and lengthy trade routes, which complicates the movement of goods and services.

• Economic Diversification: Landlocked countries often struggle with limited economic diversification due to these transportation barriers, which impact their ability to access global markets.

• Infrastructure Development: The lack of coastline and seaport facilities limits the development of key infrastructure, particularly in transportation and logistics.

Theme: “Driving Progress through Partnerships”

The theme of the LLDC3 conference, “Driving Progress through Partnerships”, emphasizes the importance of collaboration between governments, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society. This year’s conference aims to explore actionable solutions by:

• Building Smarter Investment Frameworks: Encouraging international investments to improve transportation infrastructure and economic systems in LLDCs.

• Developing Efficient Transport Corridors: Enhancing the movement of goods and services by improving the transport connectivity and transit systems in landlocked countries, making trade more efficient and affordable.

Awaza Programme of Action (APoA) 2024–2034

A key highlight of LLDC3 is the Awaza Programme of Action (APoA), which will guide international efforts over the next decade. Adopted by consensus at the UN General Assembly in December 2024, the APoA is a comprehensive framework designed to tackle the persistent development challenges faced by LLDCs. The programme focuses on five interconnected priority areas:

1. Structural Transformation, Science, Technology, and Innovation:

   • Promoting economic diversification through innovation, modernizing infrastructure, and improving the technological capabilities of LLDCs.

2. Trade, Trade Facilitation, and Regional Integration:

   • Facilitating better trade flows through regional cooperation, harmonizing trade policies, and improving trade facilitation measures.

3. Transit, Transport, and Connectivity:

   • Improving transport infrastructure to create seamless and cost-effective trade routes that connect LLDCs with global markets. This includes enhancing cross-border transportation networks, port facilities, and logistical infrastructure.

4. Enhancing Adaptive Capacity, Strengthening Resilience, and Reducing Vulnerability:

   • Focus on climate resilience and disaster risk reduction strategies, ensuring that LLDCs are better prepared for environmental challenges that impact their agricultural and economic systems.

5. Implementation, Follow-up, and Monitoring:

   • Establishing systems for monitoring progress and ensuring that the objectives of the APoA are being met through regular reviews and follow-up mechanisms.

Challenges Faced by LLDCs

Landlocked countries face some unique development barriers, including:

• High Trade Costs: The absence of seaports means goods must be transported across multiple countries, increasing logistical and customs clearance costs.

• Geopolitical Risks: LLDCs often rely on neighboring countries for access to seaports, making them vulnerable to geopolitical tensions or border disputes.

• Limited Access to Global Markets: Without direct access to sea trade routes, LLDCs are disadvantaged in terms of export competitiveness and global market access.

LLDC3 Conference and Global Partnerships

The LLDC3 conference offers a crucial platform for mobilizing international support, and through partnerships, it aims to bring together key stakeholders from across the world to find practical solutions to these long-standing challenges. The conference will foster collaboration between governments, the private sector, and international development organizations to ensure that landlocked countries can break free from the economic and infrastructural barriers they face.

India’s Role and Opportunity

India, which has historically supported landlocked countries through trade, development aid, and regional cooperation, can play a crucial role in helping LLDCs by:

• Sharing expertise in infrastructure development, trade facilitation, and agricultural innovation.

• Strengthening regional trade through initiatives like South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and BIMSTEC.

• Expanding partnerships with LLDCs in areas like science, technology, and climate resilience.

India's growing influence in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions provides it with a unique opportunity to contribute to the success of LLDC3’s objectives and create long-term partnerships that benefit both India and its landlocked neighbors.

Conclusion

The LLDC3 conference and the Awaza Programme of Action (2024–2034) mark a significant step toward overcoming the challenges faced by landlocked developing countries. By focusing on partnerships, trade facilitation, and transport connectivity, the conference aims to drive economic growth and sustainable development in these nations.