31 October: In a dialogue session with the UN General Assembly’s (UNGA) Second Committee, UN regional commission heads recommended enhancing South-South cooperation in the areas of trade, finance, services, labor and good development practice. The dialogue took place in New York, US, on 31 October 2013, on the theme of ‘Inter-regional Cooperation: An enabler for the post-2015 development agenda.’

Rima Khalaf, Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), said the post-2015 process should capture regional priorities and aspirations, and regional cooperation should cover not only trade but also financial and labor markets.

Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), who served as moderator, said equality, sustainability and productivity are key aims, and suggested the region should reduce dependence on imported goods. She noted that 80% of South-South trade occurs in the Asia-Pacific, and that South America risks remaining on the periphery of the global economy.

Shun-ichi Murata, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), responded that despite the region’s economic dynamism, it faces remaining challenges such as unsustainable use of natural resources, lack of investment in infrastructure, vulnerability to natural disasters, and increases in inequality.

On South-South development assistance, Bárcena reported that Arab donors have provided an average of 1.5% of gross national income (GNI) in 35 years, twice the UN target. Murata recalled the plan of BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) to establish a global development bank for the South.

Sven Alkalaj, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), highlighted ECE experiences as vehicles for developing best practice in many areas of cooperation, such as on transboundary water issues, common statistical standards, and green technology, including the Efficiency 21 Programme.

Aida Opoku-Mensah, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), called for the post-2015 development agenda to focus on inclusive economic growth and structural transformation, as opposed to foreign donor funds. She noted that African regional consultations have created a High-Level Committee to finalize an African common position.

In the ensuing discussion, delegates highlighted the need to improve inclusiveness and equality in development, and to address the vulnerabilities of the smaller economies in trade or other groupings. [Meeting Summary] [Webcast] [Website of Regional Commissions]