India to host LDCs Ministerial Meeting

India: Foreign Ministers and representatives of the 48 Least Developed Countries(LDCs) are expected to meet in New Delhi over the weekend to discuss with Indian authorities ways to boost South-South cooperation, an official source said.

Indian permanent ambassador to the UN, H S Puri said in a press conference that the meeting will also contribute to assess the needs of those nations prior to the Fourth UN LDCs Summit to be held in Istanbul in May. After recalling that India’s cooperation with poorer countries worldwide dates from 1968, the diplomat estimated New Delhi contributions at around USD $35 billion.

In this regard, he cited the Technical and Economic Cooperation program and the different, preferential treatment India gives them through the elimination of quotas and taxes.

Puri said that during the meeting scheduled to start on Friday, February 18, New Delhi might announce new loans and other concessions to LDCs.

At least 35 Foreign ministers and other LDC representatives are expected to attend, and many developed countries will send observers.

The LDCs include 33 African nations where 14 are located in the Asia-Pacific region and one in Latin America (Haiti.) In the last few years only three (Bostwana, Cape Verde and Maldivas) have managed to become developing countries, said Puri.

According to the Indian official, a main target of the Istanbul Summit will be to halve the current number of LDCs.

New Delhi, Prensa Latina