CONFÉRENCE DES NATIONS UNIES SUR
LE COMMERCE ET LE DÉVELOPPEMENT
UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE
ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT
OSG/MISC/2010/2
(10/08/ams)
NOTIFICATION
Ad Hoc Expert Group Meeting
Fourth United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries:
Key Development Challenges Facing the LDCs
Room XXVI, Palais des Nations
Geneva, 18–19 February 2010
The Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD) is convening a one-and-a-half day Ad Hoc Expert Group Meeting entitled “United
Nations LDC IV: Key Development Challenges Facing the LDCs”. The meeting will be held on 18–19
February 2010 at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, room XXVI. It will open at 3 p.m. on Thursday,
18 February 2010, and conclude at 6 p.m. on Friday, 19 February 2010.
Background and purpose of the meeting
UNCTAD has been mandated both by the Accra Accord and General Assembly resolutions to
actively contribute to the preparations for the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least
Developed Countries (LDC IV) under the lead role of the United Nations Office of the High
Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and the Small
Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS). The conference is scheduled to take place during the first
half of 2011.
The meeting will be convened pursuant to the above mandates, and in consultation with various
stakeholders. Concretely, the main objectives of the expert meeting will be two-fold:
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To analyze the economic performance of the LDCs in order to identify discernable
structural changes that have taken place since the adoption of the 2001 Brussels Programme
of Action; and
To reflect on a new generation of LDC-specific international support measures with a view
to accelerating the graduation process of this group of countries.
The meeting’s discussions will feed into a document that UNCTAD is preparing in the run-up to
LDC IV.
Logistics
The meeting will take place at the United Nations Office at Geneva, Palais des Nations.
Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in all official UN languages. Upon arrival and before
entering the Palais des Nations, participants are requested to collect their badges at the United Nations
Security Service at Pregny Gate. The Security Service is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Because of the
security measures in force, participants are strongly advised to arrive before 2 p.m. in order to
complete the procedures and reach the meeting in good time. Participants are requested to bring a
passport or similar national identity card with them. Taxis are not allowed to enter the grounds of the
Palais des Nations and visitors will therefore be dropped off at the requested entrance gate.
Furthermore, luggage may not be brought into the buildings unless the Security Service gives
special clearance.
CNUCED
UNCTAD
Page 2
Participation
The meeting is open to all member States of UNCTAD. The meeting may be of particular
interest to government officials, non-governmental organizations and civil society groups involved
with issues related to developmental challenges of LDCs. In addition, experts from international and
regional organizations dealing with LDCs and development-related issues will also be invited.
Member States, specialized agencies and intergovernmental bodies wishing to participate in the
meeting, as well as non-governmental organizations in the General Category and those in the Special
Category wishing to participate as observers, are requested to inform the UNCTAD secretariat of the
names of their representatives by 11 February 2010.
Documents and contributed papers
The provisional programme for the meeting is attached. All experts are encouraged to
prepare and submit brief papers. These papers will be made available at the meeting in the form
and language in which they are received.
Further information and contact details
Nominations and related communications concerning representation at the meeting should
be sent to the UNCTAD secretariat, Intergovernmental Support Service, Palais des Nations,
CH-1211 Geneva 10; fax: + 41 22 917 0214; e-mail: meetings@unctad.org.
Enquiries concerning substantive issues should be addressed to Mr. Debapriya Bhattacharya,
Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland; e-mail: deb.bhattacharya@unctad.org;
fax: + 41 22 917 0055; or Mr. Mohamed Elkeiy, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10,
Switzerland; fax: + 41 22 917 0055; e-mail: mohamed.elkeiy@unctad.org.
(signed)
Supachai Panitchpakdi
Secretary-General of UNCTAD
26 January 2010