Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Ambassador Rabab Fatima has said the lack of infrastructure, especially in the areas of ICT, health, and education is acutely felt during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
"Therefore, it should be our urgent priority to build adequate infrastructure in all these areas," she said.
The envoy made remarks while speaking at a virtual panel discussion on ‘Accelerating infrastructure investments for a sustainable and resilient recovery and restoring trade’ at the ECOSOC (United Nations Economic and Social Council) Forum on Financing for Development in New York on Tuesday.
Highlighting the critical importance of digital infrastructure for providing vital services to people, Ambassador Fatima urged the developed countries to ensure much needed technology transfer to LDCs and other vulnerable countries.
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She also underscored the importance of ensuring fast recovery from the pandemic as well as better resilience against current and future shocks.
Ambassador Fatima called for the integration of the disasters and climate change issues into investment decisions to build long-term sustainability and resilience.
Underlining the weaknesses of the global supply chain infrastructure, she emphasized the need for further improvement of trade infrastructure including in the areas of transit, transportation, and shipping etc.
The envoy put specific focus on the grants and long-term concessional financing in infrastructure investment, public-private financing, blended financing, south-south and triangular cooperation etc.
She urged the advanced economies to fulfill their unmet promises in the areas of DFQF market access and other trade benefits to LDCs.
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The 2021 ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development is being held from 12-15 April 2021 in New York.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal is leading the Bangladesh delegation.
He delivered a pre-recorded statement at the special segment of the Forum held on April 12.
Bangladesh also participated in the Special High-level Meeting with the Bretton Woods Institutions (World Bank and IMF), WTO and UNCTAD on Tuesday.