INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT ON ITT FOR LLDCS ENTERS INTO FORCE

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The Multilateral Agreement on the Establishment of International Think Tank for Landlocked Developing Countries (ITT for LLDCs) entered into force on October 6. The announcement was made at a press conference held in the UN headquarters in New York. The conference was attended by Fekitamoeloa 'Utoikamanu, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, Odbayar Erdenetsogt, Ambassador at-Large and Interim Director of the International Think Tank for LLDCs and Lazarous Kapambwe, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations and Chair of Landlocked Developing Countries on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs). The multilateral agreement entered into force as it was ratified by 10 countries including Mongolia /2011/, Lao People’s Democratic Republic /2012/, Armenia /2012/, Afghanistan /2013/, Kazakhstan /2015/, Burkina Faso /2016/, Paraguay /2016/, Kyrgyz Republic /2017/, Tajikistan /2017/ and Nepal /2017/. “Equipping the LLDCs with analytical capacity and platform for experience and knowledge sharing and a tool to enhance the visibility of shared issues is a truly strategic effort,” said Under-Secretary-General Fekitamoeloa ‘Utoikamanu at the press conference, naming the most common challenges LLDCs face. “This is a very important and historic day for all landlocked developing countries as this international think tank is the first and only think tank there is, dedicating its work to the special needs and challenges of the LLDC community in particular,” said Interim Director E.Odbayar. The ITT for LLDCs is a 2006 initiative of President of Mongolia. The ITT started active operations under its interim management scheme in 2012 in Ulaanbaatar with USD 1 million contribution of the Government of Mongolia. With the agreement entering into force, the ITT for LLDCs will start full operation as an intergovernmental body. “The ITT for LLDCs will focus on issues that are of most relevance to the LLDCs, thereby helping to realize the principles of the 2030 UN agenda of Leaving No One Behind,” E.Odbayar said. Kh.Aminaa