The Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC 3) included an interactive round table on financial sustainability and resource mobilization. The keynote speech was delivered by Mammetguly Astanagulov, Minister of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan, who stressed the importance of a comprehensive and coordinated approach to overcoming the chronic financing gap faced by these countries. This was reported by IIC.

‘Financial constraints remain one of the key challenges for landlocked countries. We must move from discussions to real action to remove these barriers,’ the Minister said.

During the discussions, participants identified a number of structural challenges: a limited tax base, declining official development assistance (ODA), reduced inflows of foreign direct investment, growing external debt and vulnerability to global and climate crises.

Among the proposed solutions are strengthening national financial systems through modernising tax administration, digitalisation and improving access to financial services. There was a call for the international community to increase aid: it was proposed to raise ODA to 0.2% of developed countries' GNI for the least developed countries, most of which are landlocked.

‘Support should not be episodic, but sustainable and fair, consistent with national priorities and strategies,’ Astanagulov stressed.

At the end of the meeting, it was noted that the successful implementation of the Awaza Programme of Action for 2024–2034 requires a sustainable global partnership and collective efforts by all stakeholders.

‘Only by joining forces can we ensure that no landlocked state is left behind on the sustainable development agenda,’ Mammetguly Astanagulov concluded.