STATEMENT BY MR. VIVEK GANESH, FIRST SECRETARY, PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, AT THE UNITED NATIONS DAY FOR SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION, 12 SEPTEMBER 2024, ECOSOC CHAMBER

Thank you, Chair,

Excellencies,

1                 Singapore aligns itself with the statement delivered by Uganda on behalf of the G77 and China. We express our appreciation to the UN Office for South-South Cooperation for convening us to commemorate this important day, as well as for its tireless work and innovation through platforms like the South-South Galaxy to facilitate partnership and knowledge sharing, and imbue the principle of South-South cooperation in the work of the UN.

2                 South-South cooperation, as a framework, is not just a tool for countries to hoist themselves up the development ladder – it is lifeblood for developing countries. As highlighted by the Secretary-General, this framework remains vital for promoting solidarity and mutual development, and emphasises a paradigm of shared responsibility, especially in these challenging times.

3                 For Singapore, South-South cooperation is not merely policy, but a principle deeply embedded in our development history. As a small island developing state (SIDS), we have recognised and benefitted from the international community’s support, including from fellow developing nations, and we are deeply committed to paying this forward through partnerships, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building.

4                 A key feature of our approach to South-South cooperation is tailored, practical, and needs-driven solutions that recognise demand, capabilities, and the diversity of our partner countries, towards achieving prosperity and sustainable development. I would like to make four points:

1. First, we believe that capacity-building enables greater accountability and a more sustainable transformation for developing countries. In this spirit, our flagship Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) has trained over 150,000 foreign officials over the past 30 years, and we have evolved the programme to better cohere to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, such as by launching a Sustainability Action Package to share best practices in climate adaptation and resilience. 

2. Second, as distinguished panellists earlier referenced, on financing, we need a rethink. South-South cooperation must strongly consider government-driven private sector mobilisation, to unlock and crowd in the lion’s share of resources. This is why, on green transition, Singapore launched the Financing Asia’s Transition Partnership (FAST-P) blended finance initiative to catalyse up to US$5 billion from concessional and commercial capital providers globally. 

3. Third, digitalisation is an inevitability. We catch the wave, or we lose. Harnessing digital technologies and digital solutions will radically close the SDG gap. This is why Singapore contributes our digital solutions for healthcare, electronic verification, and accessibility to the UNDP and ITU open registries of digital public goods. This is also why the Global Digital Compact must serve as an action-oriented blueprint for us to implement to achieve a better and more equitable world.

4. Fourth, we must galvanise support to address multidimensional vulnerability, especially for small states, which often disproportionately bear the negative impacts of external shocks. Singapore’s “SIDS for Change” technical assistance package with a new focus on blue carbon and digitalisation, as well as our Forum of Small States (or FOSS) for Good package are testament to this belief.

Chair,

5                 We must amplify our collective voice. The threats we face today – climate change, biodiversity loss, mounting debt – are not those that can be surmounted by any single country alone. It is therefore indubitable that South-South and triangular cooperation must be enhanced. Singapore looks forward to continue doing so.

6                 Thank you.

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