Group of 77 and China
STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY H.E.
MR. RENé ORELLANA, AMBASSADOR ON ENVIRONMENT AND
DEVELOPMENT ISSUES OF THE PLURINATIONAL STATE OF BOLIVIA,
AT THE 11TH SESSION OF THE OPEN WORKING GROUP ON
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS) ON "MEANS OF
IMPLEMENTATION AND GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT" (New York, 9 May 2014)
Distinguished Co-Chairs,
1. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
2. The Group underscores that Focus Area 15 on Means of Implementation is by far the most
fundamental section, because a meaningful and adequate set of actions is needed if developing
countries are to be able to implement the Sustainable Development Goals. It is not an
overstatement to say that the SDGs will stand or fall depending on their Means of Implementation.
3. In order to ensure that the Means of Implementation and Global Partnership are meaningful, both
the specific and the systemic dimensions of the various issues addressed in the targets need to
be further developed and clarified, so that they are relevant to both the global system as well as the
specific requirements of developing countries.
4. As the G77 and China has stated previously, the very notion of 'means of implementation'
means that the mix of financial resources, technological development and transfers as well as
capacity building must be supported by actions from developed countries at the international level.
This refers to time-bound financing targets; associated trade and economic policies; technology
transfer and other resources to assist and enable developing countries efforts.
5. Bearing this in mind, we are seriously concerned that Focus Area 15 on Means of
Implementation in this third version of the document does not refer specifically to concrete actions
that developed countries, and the international financial institutions in which they have a majority
voice in, should undertake.
6. Furthermore, we reiterate that the Monterrey and Doha conferences on financing for
development are a strong foundation for the SDG financing strategy. This should be reflected in the
Means of Implementation.
7. As this Focus Area is currently outlined, the Means of Implementation are defined as operational
issues like finance, trade and technology, while the Global Partnership for Development is defined
primarily as a process of engaging stakeholders and of reporting progress. There have to be a
clear difference between the issues of finance and technology transfer and the Global Partnership
for Development. The first two should come mainly from public sources of developed countries.
8. There are the well known goals and targets within MDG Goal 8, which deal with ODA, trade,
debt, access to medicines, technology etc. These already established goals and targets and
should be reflected within the targets listed in the Focus Areas Document for the SDGs.
9. We call for a strengthened and enhanced Global Partnership for Development according to the
principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR),, firmly based on international
cooperation on a broad range of key development issues, and primarily on a North-South basis.
The meaning of Global Partnership for Development should not be overwhelmed by the notion of
Partnerships in the plural, which overwhelmingly refers to engaging with the private sector or civil
society.
10. The Global Partnership for Development is one that is principally between governments of
developed and developing countries, with the developed countries taking the lead in providing
resources and the means of implementation.
11. Co-Chairs, we find that the most problematic target is the first one, in target (a). It reads:
"promote open, rules-based, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading and financial
systems." The clustering of trade and finance in the same target is entirely inappropriate, because
while an open and equitable multilateral trade system should be promoted, an open financial
system is an entirely different matter and should not be promoted.
12. An open financial system is defined as a liberalized system of financial flows that allow funds,
including speculative funds, to move in and out of countries. This has triggered many financial
crises over the decades, and has led to significant outflows of illicit financial flows from developing
countries, particularly through corporate tax evasion and avoidance, the use of offshore tax havens
and transfer mispricing by Transnational Corporations.
13. Furthermore, as previously stated, despite previous debt relief initiatives and recent efforts,
many developing countries still have substantial amount of state resources tied up in debt
repayments. In this regard, it is imperative that a permanent and effective sovereign debt workout
mechanism must be created to resolve the debt problem. With regard to target (m) on debt, which
currently states "ensure debt sustainability and debt relief," it should be amended to include:
"ensure debt sustainability, debt restructuring and debt relief, and these efforts should take into
account the country's need to successfully implement the agreed SDGs."
14. Finally, as previously stressed by the Group of 77 and China, global official development
assistance remains an important source of public financing for developing countries, particularly
those without sufficient access to other sources. We urge for prompt action to reverse this decline
and call for progress towards the 0.7 percent of GNI target, including the 0.15 percent to 0.20
percent target for least developed countries.
I thank you, Co-Chairs!
MR. RENé ORELLANA, AMBASSADOR ON ENVIRONMENT AND
DEVELOPMENT ISSUES OF THE PLURINATIONAL STATE OF BOLIVIA,
AT THE 11TH SESSION OF THE OPEN WORKING GROUP ON
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS) ON "MEANS OF
IMPLEMENTATION AND GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT" (New York, 9 May 2014)
Distinguished Co-Chairs,
1. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
2. The Group underscores that Focus Area 15 on Means of Implementation is by far the most
fundamental section, because a meaningful and adequate set of actions is needed if developing
countries are to be able to implement the Sustainable Development Goals. It is not an
overstatement to say that the SDGs will stand or fall depending on their Means of Implementation.
3. In order to ensure that the Means of Implementation and Global Partnership are meaningful, both
the specific and the systemic dimensions of the various issues addressed in the targets need to
be further developed and clarified, so that they are relevant to both the global system as well as the
specific requirements of developing countries.
4. As the G77 and China has stated previously, the very notion of 'means of implementation'
means that the mix of financial resources, technological development and transfers as well as
capacity building must be supported by actions from developed countries at the international level.
This refers to time-bound financing targets; associated trade and economic policies; technology
transfer and other resources to assist and enable developing countries efforts.
5. Bearing this in mind, we are seriously concerned that Focus Area 15 on Means of
Implementation in this third version of the document does not refer specifically to concrete actions
that developed countries, and the international financial institutions in which they have a majority
voice in, should undertake.
6. Furthermore, we reiterate that the Monterrey and Doha conferences on financing for
development are a strong foundation for the SDG financing strategy. This should be reflected in the
Means of Implementation.
7. As this Focus Area is currently outlined, the Means of Implementation are defined as operational
issues like finance, trade and technology, while the Global Partnership for Development is defined
primarily as a process of engaging stakeholders and of reporting progress. There have to be a
clear difference between the issues of finance and technology transfer and the Global Partnership
for Development. The first two should come mainly from public sources of developed countries.
8. There are the well known goals and targets within MDG Goal 8, which deal with ODA, trade,
debt, access to medicines, technology etc. These already established goals and targets and
should be reflected within the targets listed in the Focus Areas Document for the SDGs.
9. We call for a strengthened and enhanced Global Partnership for Development according to the
principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR),, firmly based on international
cooperation on a broad range of key development issues, and primarily on a North-South basis.
The meaning of Global Partnership for Development should not be overwhelmed by the notion of
Partnerships in the plural, which overwhelmingly refers to engaging with the private sector or civil
society.
10. The Global Partnership for Development is one that is principally between governments of
developed and developing countries, with the developed countries taking the lead in providing
resources and the means of implementation.
11. Co-Chairs, we find that the most problematic target is the first one, in target (a). It reads:
"promote open, rules-based, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading and financial
systems." The clustering of trade and finance in the same target is entirely inappropriate, because
while an open and equitable multilateral trade system should be promoted, an open financial
system is an entirely different matter and should not be promoted.
12. An open financial system is defined as a liberalized system of financial flows that allow funds,
including speculative funds, to move in and out of countries. This has triggered many financial
crises over the decades, and has led to significant outflows of illicit financial flows from developing
countries, particularly through corporate tax evasion and avoidance, the use of offshore tax havens
and transfer mispricing by Transnational Corporations.
13. Furthermore, as previously stated, despite previous debt relief initiatives and recent efforts,
many developing countries still have substantial amount of state resources tied up in debt
repayments. In this regard, it is imperative that a permanent and effective sovereign debt workout
mechanism must be created to resolve the debt problem. With regard to target (m) on debt, which
currently states "ensure debt sustainability and debt relief," it should be amended to include:
"ensure debt sustainability, debt restructuring and debt relief, and these efforts should take into
account the country's need to successfully implement the agreed SDGs."
14. Finally, as previously stressed by the Group of 77 and China, global official development
assistance remains an important source of public financing for developing countries, particularly
those without sufficient access to other sources. We urge for prompt action to reverse this decline
and call for progress towards the 0.7 percent of GNI target, including the 0.15 percent to 0.20
percent target for least developed countries.
I thank you, Co-Chairs!
Stakeholders