Le Secrétaire général appelle à écrire un nouveau chapitre de l’histoire des pays en développement sans littoral

On trouvera, ci-après, le texte de l’allocution du Secrétaire général de l’ONU, M. António Guterres, prononcée lors de l’ouverture de la troisième Conférence des Nations Unies sur les pays en développement sans littoral, à Avaza, au Turkménistan, aujourd’hui:

I thank the Government and people of Turkmenistan for your warm welcome and leadership in hosting this important conference.

We gather today to reaffirm a fundamental truth:

Geography should never define destiny.

Yet for the 32 Landlocked Developing Countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America, geography too often limits development opportunities and entrenches inequality.

Your countries face daunting challenges: steep barriers to trade, high transport costs, and limited access to global markets.

Many remain highly vulnerable – relying on raw commodity exports, exposed to volatile international prices and constrained by narrow economic bases.

Meanwhile, debt burdens are rising to dangerous and unsustainable levels.

And one-third of LLDCs are grappling with vulnerability, insecurity, or conflict.

Despite representing 7 per cent of the world’s population, LLDCs account for just over one per cent of the global economy and trade – a stark example of deep inequalities that perpetuate marginalization.

These inequalities are not inevitable.

They are the result of an unfair global economic and financial architecture unfit for the realities of today’s interconnected world, compounded by systemic neglect, structural barriers – and in many cases, the legacy of a colonial past.

Recent shocks – from the COVID-19 pandemic to climate disasters, supply chain disruptions, conflicts and geopolitical tensions—have deepened the divide – pushing many LLDCs further away from achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

But this conference is not about obstacles.

 It is about solutions.

 It is about launching a new decade of ambition – through the Awaza Programme of Action and its deliverables – and fully unlocking the development potential of landlocked developing countries. 

The United Nations is proud to stand with you in this effort.

 Allow me to outline four essential priorities for collective action in the decade ahead.

 First – we must accelerate structural transformation and economic diversification.

LLDCs possess extraordinary potential – from natural resources to human capital.

Yet this potential remains largely untapped – constrained by limited funding and market access.

 We need bold and sustained investments in value-added industries, local innovation, and inclusive growth that reaches every community – across regions and generations.

Digital transformation must be central to this effort.

It can help LLDCs overcome physical barriers and connect to global markets.

Digital tools can also deepen connectivity between communities – preserving indigenous knowledge, celebrating cultural heritage, and strengthening linguistic and educational exchanges across borders.

And with the right support, LLDCs can leverage Artificial Intelligence to strengthen early warning systems, expand precision farming, enable smart logistics – and tailor solutions in health, education, and public services.

 But today, the digital divide is stark.

 Many people in LLDCs remain offline, with women and rural communities especially excluded.

 We must urgently close these gaps – by expanding digital infrastructure, boosting digital literacy, and ensuring affordable access for all.

The Global Digital Compact offers a roadmap.

We need strong partnerships – particularly with the private sector – to scale innovation, transfer technologies, and connect some of the world’s most isolated populations.

I will soon present a report on innovative voluntary financing options to support AI capacity-building in developing countries.

We must also support LLDCs in harnessing e-commerce, mobile banking, and digital services to unlock jobs, boost revenues, and empower youth.

Second – we must strengthen trade, transit, and regional connectivity.

Your countries are bound by deep human connections – shared languages, cultural heritage, and kinship ties – that transcend borders and offer a powerful foundation for regional cooperation.

Yet, fragmented logistics, border delays, inadequate transport infrastructure, high transport costs keep your countries on the margins of the global economy.

We must address both the “hardware” and “software” of connectivity.

That means simplifying cross-border procedures, harmonizing standards, and strengthening legal frameworks for seamless trade and transit. 

It means investing in physical infrastructure – from resilient transport corridors to cross-border energy interconnections, expanded air connectivity and smart logistics platforms. 

 LLDCs must be fully integrated into regional and global value chains – transforming their role from suppliers of raw materials to creators of high-value products.

 We must reform the global trade system to better reflect your realities, challenges and ambitions.

We must deepen connections with transit countries through joint planning, mutual benefit, and shared infrastructure – including traditional trade routes and cross-border community ties.

Multilateral development banks must prioritize LLDCs with concessional funding in their regional transport and trade lending portfolios, rapidly scaling support for green, cross-border investments.

When LLDCs are connected, entire regions can prosper.

Third – we must strengthen climate action.

LLDCs contribute less than 3 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions – but suffer disproportionately and unjustly from climate impacts.

From desertification in the Sahel to glacial retreat in mountainous regions, from extreme weather in Central Asia to changing rainfall patterns in South America, climate change is hitting landlocked countries hard.

The combination of landlockedness and climate vulnerability creates compound risks that threaten development – and in some cases, survival.

When climate disasters destroy critical infrastructure, entire economies can be severed from global markets overnight.

We must double adaptation finance as promised, invest in early warning systems, and build resilient infrastructure that can withstand climate shocks.

At the same time, the science is unequivocal: to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, we must keep the 1.5-degree goal within reach.

COP30 later this year must be a decisive moment.

 G20 countries bear a particular responsibility due to the scale of their emissions.

They must lead by example – submitting Nationally Determined Contributions that reflect their highest possible ambition.

And LLDCs must have the means to act, from financing and technologies to partnerships that align climate action with national development goals.

With the right support, the green transition can enable your countries to leapfrog to sustainable solutions – from renewable energy to electric mobility – creating new industries and decent jobs, while protecting the planet.

Quatrièmement, nous devons mobiliser des fonds et des partenariats.

Aucune de nos ambitions ne peut être réalisée sans des financements adéquats, accessibles et abordables.

 Or, aujourd’hui, de nombreux pays en développement sans littoral sont pris au piège d’un cercle vicieux d’endettement et de sous-investissement:

Des coûts d’emprunt élevés en raison des risques perçus, un accès limité aux marchés financiers internationaux, et un endettement qui détourne les maigres ressources du développement vers le remboursement de la dette.

 L’accès à des financements abordables et à long terme reste insuffisant.

Et le système financier mondial fait défaut à ceux qui en ont le plus besoin.

L’Engagement de Séville appelle à une nouvelle ère de financement –une ère équitable, inclusive et adaptée aux réalités des pays en développement.

Nous devons mettre en œuvre ces engagements avec urgence et ambition.

 Nous devons tripler la capacité de prêt des banques multilatérales de développement pour accroître les financements concessionnels;

 Réformer l’architecture de la dette souveraine afin de mieux soutenir le développement durable;

 Mobiliser des capitaux privés à grande échelle – dans l’intérêt général;

Renforcer la coopération fiscale mondiale afin de lutter contre l’évasion fiscale et freiner les flux financiers illicites;

Et réformer la gouvernance de l’architecture financière internationale afin de promouvoir plus d’équité, de transparence et de responsabilité avec une meilleure participation des pays en développement.

Nous devons aussi débloquer des financements concessionnels pour le climat –de toute urgence et à grande échelle– pour permettre aux pays en développement sans littoral d’investir dans des infrastructures résilientes, un développement durable et une croissance inclusive.

Le Programme d’action d’Avaza fait écho à l’Engagement de Séville.

 Ensemble, ils offrent une feuille de route concrète pour transformer les promesses en capitaux –et les capitaux en avancées tangibles.

La réussite des pays en développement sans littoral est essentielle à la réussite du Programme 2030.

Nous avons les connaissances.  Nous avons les outils.

Ensemble, nous pouvons écrire un nouveau chapitre de l’histoire des pays en développement sans littoral, fait d’intégration économique, de résilience et de prospérité partagée.

Ensemble, nous pouvons transformer la géographie, aujourd’hui un obstacle, en une passerelle –reliant non seulement les marchés, mais aussi les peuples et les cultures qui donnent tout son sens au développement.

Saisissons cette occasion pour bâtir un avenir plus prospère, plus juste et plus durable pour tous.