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Closing Statement at the 2020 SIDS National Focal Point Meeting: AIS Region

Statement by Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa¡®Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

4 August 2020 
New York, USA

Excellencies, 
Colleagues, 
Ladies and gentlemen,

I wish to thank Mr. Sebastian Vauzelle from the RCO in Cabo Verde, for so ably moderating the last session and for his excellent summary of our discussions.

I also wish to thank Ambassador Young, our distinguished focal points and institutional partners for your very substantive and productive contributions. You have provided us with a wealth of information on the situation of SIDS in the wake of COVID, and on how we can move forward together toward a more resilient future.

Your assessments, together with those of the Pacific and Caribbean regions, will certainly be reflected in the work of OHRLLS, and shared across inter-regional and global networks to ensure a more coordinated approach to addressing the challenges posed by the multiple crises facing our countries, as we build back better.

The important takeaways from this meeting, as well as our first two meetings will be captured in a summary report, which will be made available in due course.

We will also take up the discussions at our in person meeting of the focal points, which we still plan to hold in Antigua and Barbuda, when circumstances allow.

Thank you all so much again for very useful discussions and your active participation.

The meeting is adjourned.