UN Conference on Least Developed Countries offers opportunity for Finland to strengthen partnerships

State Secretary Johanna Sumuvuori will lead Finland’s national delegation to the UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries in Doha, Qatar. More than one third of Finland’s development cooperation funding goes to the least developed countries, which also make up the majority of Finland’s bilateral partners.

The conference offers an opportunity for Finland to strengthen its partnerships with the least developed countries and to highlight good practices and innovations developed in Finland. Participating in the conference also sends a political message about the importance of the least developed countries for Finland.

“There are currently 46 least developed countries in the world, all of which are affected by large-scale poverty and are vulnerable to economic and natural disasters and infectious diseases. Finland wants to support these countries in their development. This is in the interest of the least developed countries and Finland alike,” State Secretary Sumuvuori says.

The Doha Conference brings together countries from all over the world to advance the position of the least developed countries. It is attended by representatives from governments, the private sector and civil society. The conference is organised once every ten years.

State Secretary Sumuvuori will attend the conference on 6–8 March and give an address on behalf of Finland. President Tarja Halonen will also take part in the conference. President Halonen will deliver the keynote address at a roundtable discussion on investing in citizens and human rights in the least developed countries.