STATEMENT BY MS. KAREN ONG, CHARGE D’AFFAIRES A.I. OF THE PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS AT THE 22ND SESSION OF THE HIGH-LEVEL COMMITTEE ON SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION

Thank you, Mr President.

At the outset, I congratulate you and the members of the Bureau on your election. I assure you of our support for your leadership of this session. Singapore is pleased to align itself with the statements delivered on behalf of the Group of 77 and China and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).

Mr President,

2 At a time when the multilateral system is facing unprecedented stress, this meeting affords us the opportunity to reaffirm the importance of solidarity among developing countries, of the progress we have made thus far in strengthening South-South cooperation, and how much we can go to fully leverage its potential.  We face multiple interlocking global challenges - from climate change to narrowing fiscal space – and they demand collective, creative and cumulative solutions. We must leverage our common but also diverse experiences, comparative advantages and unique perspectives. Allow me to share three key reflections:

3 First, innovation can be the seed of progress to grow South-South cooperation. Singapore firmly believes that our cooperation can be catalysed by harnessing digitalisation and technology. This is why digitalisation is a central component in Singapore’s  flagship technical cooperation mechanism – the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP). We have launched capacity building training courses and cooperation initiatives in frontier areas such as AI-driven agriculture, urban digitalisation, and fintech governance, to equip fellow developing country officials with the tools to achieve their development priorities. At the same time, even as we support governments in design and implementation, we must also remember to tap on and train entrepreneurs, to facilitate job creation and support innovative industry solutions. 

4 Second, the private sector must be leveraged as a source of irrigation for growing South-South cooperation. Public sector-led private financing in sustainable development projects has demonstrated immense catalytic potential. For example, Singapore’s Global Innovation Alliance connects African and SIDS entrepreneurs to Singapore’s tech ecosystem. At a regional level, the ASEAN-Africa FinTech Bridge fosters cross-border collaboration for financial inclusion and has demonstrated scalability. 

5 Finally, we believe that targeted support is the compass for true efficacy. To be truly effective, South-South cooperation should be tailored to address the unique context of its beneficiaries. This is why Singapore, in consultation with our partners, launched the ‘SIDS of Change’ technical assistance package with customised courses on blue carbon and digitalisation, as well as the ‘Singapore-Africa Partnership Package (SAAP)’ to provide scholarships and training to fellow members of the Global South to address their specific development challenges. 

Mr President,

6 By combining innovation, public-private agility, and targeted needs-based collaboration, we are confident that we can enhance our collective capacity to tackle the most pressing challenges facing all of us. I assure you of Singapore’s continued commitment to working with all of you so that we can build more dynamic and resilient societies for our people. 

7 I thank you for your attention.

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