Established by the UN General Assembly in December 2011, the Ad Hoc Working Group to Further Study and Strengthen the Smooth Transition Process for the countries graduating from the LDC category held its first substantive meeting on 16 February 2012, to take stock of the current situation regarding international support measures for least developed countries (LDCs), as well as existing smooth transition measures.
16 February 2012: At its first substantive meeting, the Ad Hoc Working Group to Further Study and Strengthen the Smooth Transition Process for the countries graduating from the least developed countries (LDC ) category took stock of the current situation regarding international support measures for LDCs, as well as existing smooth transition measures, and considered LDCs’ concerns related to the phase-out of those measures.
The Ad Hoc Working Group to Further Study and Strengthen the Smooth Transition Process for the countries graduating from the LDC category was established by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in December 2011. Its first meeting, which took place on 16 February 2012, heard from two graduated countries who shared their national experience with smooth transition from LDC status. Participants had an open exchange of views on what possible approaches could be developed to address gaps and concerns. Thematic presentations focused on special measures for LCDs and implications of graduation in the areas of trade, and financial support and technical assistance, as well as on existing smooth transition measures.
The meeting included representatives from: Cape Verde, Maldives, Solomon Islands, Samoa, and Tuvalu. The second substantive meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group will be held on 16 March 2012. [Ad Hoc Working Group Website]