Global South-South Development Expo Chance to Showcase Breakthrough Technologies,

 

Explore Ways to Usher in ‘Greener’ Future, Says Secretary-General in Message

 

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message, as delivered by Juan Somavia, Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), to the Global South-South Development Expo, in Geneva, today, 22 November:

You gather at a critical time, when progress towards the Millennium Development Goals is threatened by multiple challenges, from climate change to the financial crisis to persistent food insecurity.  Despite these difficulties, a number of developing countries have achieved important gains, including rapid economic growth, reduced poverty and greater access to health and education. 

Still, there remain some 1.75 billion people in more than 100 countries who are unable to meet their basic needs, according to the Multidimensional Poverty Index, a new poverty measure launched earlier this year by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative of Oxford University and the Human Development Report Office of the United Nations Development Programme.

The challenges are clear, but they can be overcome.  Cooperation is essential.  The more developing countries can share lessons about what works, from microfinance to cash transfer programmes, the more we can advance.  Countries across the global South have created jobs and freed millions of people from poverty through home-grown solutions or by drawing on the innovations of others.  The South is a font of ideas and actions that are helping to tackle the major challenges of our day.

This Global South-South Development Expo is a valuable opportunity to share information, generate new initiatives, showcase breakthrough technologies and explore what can be done to usher in a greener, more prosperous future.  The United Nations stands with you in this effort, including through the presence of many of our agencies at this Expo.  Please accept my best wishes for a successful event.

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For information media • not an official record