A Statement by H.E. Ambassador Lewis G. Brown, II, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Liberia to the United Nations
UN HQ, Manhattan, New York, United States | April 1, 2025: Like many countries, Liberia is striving to navigate the complexities of the global restrictive space toward
sustainable development. Last year, we launched our new National Development Plan, the Arrest Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID).
The comprehensive five-year plan, budgeted at US$8.4 billion, is structured around six pillars including economic transformation, infrastructure, rule of law, governance and Anti-Corruption, environmental sustainability, and human capital development.
Excellencies,
Middle-income developing countries are the backbone of global development. Yet, unless we reform and address the inequities of the unjust international financial system, sadly, we risk achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Therefore, we join the call to:
- Expand access to concessional financing for MICs, considering their unique challenges.
- Strengthen capacity-building initiatives that foster innovation, resilience, and self-reliance.
- Prioritize partnerships that empower MICs to meet global targets, including the Sustainable Development Goals.
To conclude, Excellencies Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, the growth from low-income to a middle-income country must not become a basis for punishment, it must rather be an opportunity for reward, support and partnership for more inclusive development.
