Financing for development

Financing for Development

As delivered.

Mr President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates

The Government of New Zealand welcomes the outcome of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development. We commend the efforts of all those who have worked relentlessly over the last months to reach agreement on the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.

We thank the Government of Ethiopia and the co-facilitators from Norway and Guyana for their leadership in coordinating a wide range of views to reach agreement and to bring the conference to a successful outcome.

The Addis Ababa Action Agenda is a historic global commitment. It creates a framework that harnesses the diverse range of sources available to finance development, end poverty and ensure that no one is left behind. It makes landmark commitments to empower girls and women to participate as equals in decision-making.

New Zealand welcomes the Agenda’s recognition of the constraints that Small Island Developing States face in attaining their development aspirations, and the commitment from the global community to address these constraints.

Mr. President,

The Addis Ababa Action Agenda represents a strong global commitment to development. But our work is only beginning.

Now is the time to set aside remaining differences and tackle long-standing obstacles to poverty reduction. One example is reform of the international trading system. A successful conclusion to the Doha Round, and reforms to improve agricultural market access and eliminate export subsidies, could have a transformative impact on developing countries.

Mr. President,

New Zealand reaffirms its commitment to turning the words in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda into actions that have meaning.
We will ensure that our policies, investments and effort deliver strong results to developing countries within this new framework for development financing.

We look forward to working in effective, transparent and impactful partnerships towards our common goal to end poverty, build resilience and improve shared prosperity across the globe.

Thank you.