Speaking at a special thematic event on "Building Synergy and Coherence in the implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development", Maldives shared its experiences on graduation from the LDC status. Maldives urged the UN system to rethink its existing criteria for graduation, arguing that it does not adequately "pay attention to the inherent and extreme vulnerability of graduating countries".
His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Sareer, Permanent Representative of the Maldives, stressed that the Economic Vulnerability Index, one of the criteria used by the UN, is in itself flawed since it does not account for"key considerations such as environmental vulnerability, import dependency (for essential commodities), and geographic dispersion and isolation".
Noting that the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA) recognized the importance of "smooth" transition of graduating countries, Maldives urged action to ensure that this urgently implemented. Maldives also reiterated its call for alternative measures of development since current indicators like Gross Domestic Product (GDP) have long been known to be inadequate in gauging actual human development. Ambassador Sareer stressed that the full implementation of the IPoA will be a key enabler of the implementation of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
