THE SECRETARY-GENERAL'S PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE THIRD UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON LANDLOCKED DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

It is always a pleasure to be in Turkmenistan.

And I thank President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and the people of Turkmenistan for their warm welcome.

Your hosting of this important global gathering is a testament to the country's commitment to international cooperation and sustainable development.

For the elements of the press of Turkmenistan, I have to say, as I mentioned this morning, that I've been coming to Turkmenistan for almost two decades.

And in my visits to Turkmenistan, when I was High Commissioner for Refugees, I was extremely impressed by the fact that Turkmenistan has solved one of the most difficult problems that we have today in the world: the problem of statelessness, especially when an Empire or a Federation, or at the time also the Soviet Union, are split, many people stay without nationality.

And you can imagine what it is not to have nationality. Not to have a country they can call theirs, not to have papers, not to have rights.

And here, all the stateless [people], that after the Soviet Union were in Turkmenistan - in an exemplary procedure they were all transformed into citizens of the country, and they gained the rights of all other citizens.

And this was almost unique in the world, a symbol of generosity that I never forgot, and this is the reason that being here, I also want to pay tribute to the generosity of the Turkmen people and the Turkmen Government that made possible the organization of this Conference.

This Conference reflects a new era of cooperation taking shape across Central Asia – one grounded in mutual trust, shared priorities, and growing regional solidarity.

At a time when multilateral cooperation is being tested, this spirit of partnership is more essential than ever.

This Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries is a powerful reminder of both the scale of the challenges these countries face – and the scale of the opportunity before us.

Landlocked developing countries – 32 in total, across four continents – represent nearly 600 million people.

People who deserve the same opportunities as anyone else – but who find themselves not only landlocked, but locked out of opportunities for global growth, finance, and technology – if the countries are countries in a process of development.

They face some of the highest trade and transport costs in the world;

Limited market access;

Growing debt burdens;

And intensifying climate and conflict risks.

Today’s discussions showed that Landlocked Developing Countries don’t want charity.

They want justice, they want equitable access.

Investment.

A fair chance to build resilient economies and inclusive societies.

The Awaza Programme of Action is a blueprint for doing so over the next decade – starting now.

And allow me to briefly highlight four areas where we must act – urgently and together for landlocked developing countries.

First, unlocking economic potential.

That means investing in infrastructure, but also in people – in education, digital skills, and local innovation.

The countries represented here have the talent and the ideas.

They need the tools and support.

And these includes scaling up digital infrastructure and access to frontier technologies – such as Artificial Intelligence – to boost productivity and open new markets.

Second, we must act to connect landlocked countries to the world.

Trade corridors, transit systems, and regional integration are not technical issues – they are lifelines.

Landlocked developing countries need smart logistics, streamlined systems, and stronger partnerships with transit countries.

We must cut red tape, digitize border operations, and modernize transport networks to reduce delays and costs.

Third, we must act to confront the climate crisis.

Landlocked developing countries contribute little to global emissions but suffer some of the worst impacts – from floods to droughts and desertification.

The world must double adaptation finance and support LLDCs in building resilience and developing green industries.

And fourth and finally, we must make the global financial system work for those who need it most.

Too many landlocked countries are trapped in a cycle of debt and underinvestment.

They pay more to borrow – yet receive less support.

They need concessional finance at much greater scale, effective debt relief, and an international financial architecture that reflects the economy of today, not 80 years ago.

That is why I have been consistently calling for the reform of international financial institutions – to provide greater representation of developing countries at the decision-making table;

And to ensure that Multilateral Development Banks become bigger and bolder, substantially increase their landing capacity, and play a far greater role in de-risking investments and mobilizing private capital at scale.

When Landlocked Developing Countries thrive, entire regions benefit.

The United Nations is committed to working with every country to turn the Awaza Programme of Action into real results:

Jobs created. Goods exported. Emissions reduced. Lives transformed.

And we count on all Member States to support this effort and ensure that no country is left behind simply because of its geography.

This is not only a matter of development.

It is a matter of dignity and justice.

Thank you.