New York – The Angolan government activated the reinforced monitoring mechanism of the Doha Programme of Action by starting consultations with the United Nations Committee for Development Policy (CDP) regarding the best way for graduation to Middle Income Country (MIC).
The information was disclosed by Angola´s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, Francisco José da Cruz to the plenary of the Second Commission of the United Nations General Assembly, underlining that the country has become ineligible to graduate in 2024.
The Doha Action Programme comprises renewed and strengthened commitments between the Least Developed Countries and its partners in development, including private sector, civil society and governments.
The programme will allow Angola to turn towards a way of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, meeting the challenges of climate change and making progress towards a sustainable and irreversible graduation.
The commitments are based on the global objectives aiming to have fast, sustainable and inclusive recovery of the covid-19 pandemic, as well as eradicating extreme poverty and to reinforce labour markets, promoting the transition from informal to formal employment.
Speaking at the meeting dedicated to the follow-up to the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), the ambassador cited factors such as the instability of the oil prices, partial recovery from the depreciation of the currency, as well as macroeconomic and structural challenges as obstacles to the country's economic and social development.Francisco José da Cruz said Angola's Gross National Income (RNB) per capita fell below the graduation limits of the income exception, although it exceeded the limits of normal income.
According to the diplomat, the country has not improved the other two criteria for Least Developed Countries, namely the human resources index and the economic and environmental vulnerability index.
The diplomat reiterated that the country is committed to implementing the Doha Programme, through the National Development Plan 2023-2027, which prioritizes key areas such as the development of human capital to increase productivity, economic diversification with a view to promoting inclusive growth and sustainable development.
Francisco da Cruz added that the eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions, as well as the fight against corruption and impunity by strengthening democratic institutions and the rule of law, are among the actions underway in the country to implement the Doha Programme of Action.
The resolution 75/259 which was adopted by the UN General Assembly on February 11,2021 determined that Angola should complete its graduation process to Middle Income Country by February 2024.VM/MRA/AMP
