SPECIAL REPORT. Launch of South-South Technology Transfer Facility for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs)

Transcription

1 SPECIAL REPORT Launch of South-South Technology Transfer Facility for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) The United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation April 2015

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3 TABLE OF CONTENTS REPORT OVERVIEW 4 BACKGROUND 4 Strengthening Support for the Least Developed Countries 4 The South-South Global Assets and Technology Exchange (SS-GATE): Technology Transfer Through South-South Cooperation 5 LAUNCH OF THE SOUTH-SOUTH TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FACILITY FOR LDCs 6 Ministerial Conference on New Partnerships for Productive Capacity Building in LDCs, July 2014, Cotonou, Benin 6 Initial Activities of the LDC Facility: The SS-GATE Business Matchmaking Space 7 Objectives of the LDC Facility 8 Roll Out of the LDC Facility 9 Proposed Pilot Countries 10 Role of Principal Partners 10 THE WAY FORWARD 11 ANNEX 1. SS-GATE PARTNERSHIPS 12 ANNEX 2. LDC FACILITY LAUNCH PRESS RELEASE 14 Launch of South-South Technology Transfer Facility for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) 3

4 UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION» SPECIAL REPORT REPORT OVERVIEW This report documents the launching of an initiative spearheaded by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) in collaboration with a wide range of institutional partners, most notably the United Nations Office of the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS). This South-South Technology Transfer Facility (hereafter referred to as Facility ), was launched in order to meet the unique needs of Least Developed Countries (LDCs). The Facility was co-launched by UNOSSC and UN-OHRLLS, in collaboration with local partners and other stakeholders, on 28 July 2014 in Cotonou, Benin during the Ministerial Conference on New Partnerships for Productive Capacity Building in Least Developing Countries. The primary implementing entity has been designated as the South-South Global Assets and Technology Exchange (SS-GATE), which is an international technology transfer platform launched by UNOSSC in This report will provide context on the launch of the Facility, identify the principal partners and objectives, and chart a way forward that will provide an opportunity for UN agencies, Member States, and the wider international community to engage in the work of the LDC Facility. BACKGROUND Strengthening Support for the Least Developed Countries As the international community reflects upon the progress achieved under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and considers the contours of a post-2015 agenda, a spotlight has been cast on countries that face a unique set of development challenges that require an equally unique and focused response. Despite all the gains attributed to the MDG era, for example, 48 countries are still classified as Least Developed Countries and have failed over the last 15 years to graduate from this status despite a concerted and collective effort from the development community. According to the most recent statistics, only 16% of the population in the LDCs have access to electricity; 91% of people have no access to modern energy and 80% of them still rely on traditional bio-mass and coal for cooking and heating. Modern infrastructure continues to lag 4

5 behind international standards: only about 22% of roads are paved in LDCs and collective share of international trade is just over 1%. There is, however, some good news for the LDCs. Their collective FDI for 2012 hit a record high $26 billion and the majority of these investments originated from developing countries. But the total LDC share of world FDI is shockingly low at less than 2%. Led by UN-OHRLLS, the international community adopted the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA) during the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries to coordinate international efforts in supporting LDCs and accelerating their progress toward graduated status. A recurring theme in the IPoA is the importance and very practical imperative of leveraging existing technologies to confront the development challenges of LDCs. For example, the IPoA calls for joint actions that will enable the acquiring [of] new technologies and building [of ] domestic capacity and a knowledge base to be able to fully utilize acquired technologies [which] are needed to enhance productive capacities in least developed countries (A/CONF.219/3/Rev.1). Although technology acquisition and development have cross-cutting impacts on development (i.e. climate change, agricultural/industrial development, etc.), the IPoA highlights its particular relevance to boosting productive capacities of LDC communities and industries. In other words, technology is framed as an integral part of the strategy to build local capacities for sustainable development and to decrease the reliance of LDCs on foreign aid. The South-South Global Assets and Technology Exchange (SS-GATE): Technology Transfer through South-South Cooperation The IPoA highlights the prominent role that South-South cooperation plays in meeting development targets. The guidance provided by this strategic framework led naturally to strategic collaboration between UNOSSC and UN-OHRLLS, which resulted in the co-launching of the LDC Facility in the summer of The Facility is a concrete response intended to support South- South technology transfer for LDC Member States. The Facility will leverage SS-GATE s existing platform and infrastructure, which since its launch, has turned itself into a global public-private partnership (PPP) platform that is a rules-based, secure, and transparent South-South and triangular technology transfer mechanism that facilitates market-driven exchanges of technologies, assets, services, and financial resources for inclusive growth of developing countries. SS-GATE s virtual and physical structure has consistently been proven as a successful tool to carry out policy recommendations and bridge public policies with economic development. The Nairobi Outcome Document of the High-level UN Conference on South-South Cooperation, which was endorsed by the 64 th General Assembly in its resolution 64/222 in 2009, recognized SS-GATE as an important global and multilateral South-South Cooperation support architecture to enable the South Launch of South-South Technology Transfer Facility for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) 5

6 UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION» SPECIAL REPORT and other development partners and centres of excellence to showcase, exchange and transfer development solutions and technologies. Through 2014, SS-GATE has listed 7,087 new projects, matched 2,304, and successfully facilitated the transfer of 1,023 technology solutions along a South-South corridor. These achievements have been made through the use of a virtual platform that is operated by the SS-GATE Secretariat in Shanghai, China. The SS-GATE system also leverages partnerships on the ground with country centres which are physical institutional entities that feed the system with locally sourced projects. Currently, SS-GATE is in partnership with 50 country centres in 40 countries. Expansion of the SS- GATE system through the establishment of new country centres will continue in the coming years. LAUNCH OF THE SOUTH-SOUTH TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FACILITY FOR LDCs Ministerial Conference on New Partnerships for Productive Capacity Building in LDCs, July 2014, Cotonou, Benin In order to foster the implementation of the IPoA, the Government of Benin organised the Ministerial Conference on New Partnerships for Productive Capacity Building in LDCs. The conference identified new and innovative partnerships to support efforts of LDCs to strengthen their productive capacity, which is the first priority area of the IPoA. The organization of this meeting was led by Benin as Chair of the LDC group in close collaboration with UN-OHRLLS, which > From left to right: Signing of LDC Facility between Mr. Gyan Acharya and Mr. Yiping Zhou, with President Boni Yayi as witness > From left to right: Signing of Host of LDC Facility Agreement between Ms. Naomie Azaria Honhoui and SS-GATE representative, witnessed by Mr. Yiping Zhou and Mr. Nassirou Bako Arifari 6

7 coordinated the contributions of the UN system. The meeting was supported by several countries and organizations, as recognized in the official programme, and attended by ministers and experts from LDCs and from their development partners. In addition, representatives of the United Nations system, the private sector, the civil society, and national and international philanthropies were invited. During this conference, UNOSSC and UN-OHRLLS publicly launched the South-South Technology Transfer Facility for Least Developed Countries on 28 July The Envoy of the Secretary- General on South-South Cooperation and Director of UNOSSC, Mr. Yiping Zhou, joined with Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS, Mr. Gyan Acharya, in a signing ceremony that was witnessed by the President of Benin, Mr. Boni Yayi. On 29 July 2014, the Benin Business Promotion Centre (BBPC) signed an agreement with SS-GATE to serve as the host of the Facility with the support of the UNDP Country Office in Benin. The Benin Business Promotion Centre was represented by Ms. Naomie Azaria Honhoui, Minister of Industry, Trade, and SMEs and SS-GATE representative. The signing was witnessed by UNOSSC Director Yiping Zhou and the Chair of the LDC group (represented by Mr. Nassirou Bako Arifari, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Benin). Initial Activities of the LDC Facility: The SS-GATE Business Matchmaking Space As part of the services offered by the LDC Facility, SS-GATE staff leveraged the occasion of the Benin Ministerial Conference to host a Business Matchmaking Space which aimed to initiate business partnerships that would lead to successful transfers of technology. SS-GATE mobilized a delegation of 115 private sector entities to participate. The space was officially inaugurated in a ribbon cutting ceremony by President Yayi Boni of Benin, alongside Mr. Gyan Acharya, Ms. Nkosazana Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission; and Mr. Yiping Zhou, and ran throughout the course of the conference. > Ribbon-cutting ceremony for SS-GATE Business Matchmaking Space. Left to right: Ms. Nkosazana Zuma, AUC; Mr. Yiping Zhou, UNOSSC; Mr. Yayi Boni, President of Benin; Mr. Gyan Acharya, UN-OHRLLS Launch of South-South Technology Transfer Facility for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) 7

8 UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION» SPECIAL REPORT > Financing Session led by Société Générale As a result of SS-GATE s facilitation during the Business Matchmaking Space, two MoUs were signed one between a Beninese and a Ugandan enterprise, and the other between a Nigerian and a Ugandan enterprise. One of the MoUs, signed between representatives of the Songhai Centre in Benin and Bio-green Investments East Africa Ltd. in Uganda, represents a potential investment of over $10 million, and involves the support of the Government of Uganda. This agreement, which was witnessed by Mr. Matia Kasaija, Ugandan State Minister for Finance Planning and Mr. Tony Wamala, representative of the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce (an SS-GATE country centre), aims to replicate the successful Songhai model in Uganda. The MoU signed between the Nigerian and Ugandan enterprises was worth approximately $2 million. SS-GATE s onsite services offered during its Business Matchmaking Space led to 25 companies signing service agreements with SS-GATE, officially agreeing to regulate codes of conduct. Through these service agreements, SS-GATE committed to follow-up operations to ensure that the parties that were registered during the conference are provided the services needed to scaleup their businesses through strategic partnerships. The SS-GATE Business Matchmaking Space also involved a financing workshop provided to LDC companies by a leading regional financial institution. Objectives of the LDC Facility The objectives of the Facility are as follows: 1. Match technology providers and financial investors from the South and from traditional Northern donors with technology seekers primarily in the private sector of LDCs to facilitate technology transfer in strategic development; 2. Sectors including: agriculture, infrastructure, global health, water management, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and renewable energy; > Transfer of technologies increases trade in water village just outside of Cotonou, Benin 3. Transfer technologies from providers to recipient entities in LDCs with support from SS-GATE services platform and in coordination with the host of the Facility; 8

9 4. Source and disseminate information regarding available technologies; 5. Actively promote the use of the technologies across LDCs through organizing national and sub-regional networking meetings and workshops to inform partners and representatives from LDCs about the initiative, available technologies, success stories etc.; 6. Identify and nurture innovative business ideas in the LDCs through training and partnerships; and > SME training conducted at Benin Business Promotion Centre 7. Actively mobilize resources, financial and in-kind, for the joint Facility and for end-users in the LDCs. Roll Out of the LDC Facility The roll-out plans for the Facility involve the piloting of programmes and projects at the subregional centres. The initial experiences will inform decisions to adapt, scale-up and replicate successful activities in all participating countries in the sub-region in a more systematic and sustainable manner. A South-South and triangular cooperation technology transfer plan has been developed for six to-be-determined pilot LDCs based on their respective medium-term (3-5 years) national investment plans and sector-specific strategies and priorities. UNOSSC and UN-OHRLLS will provide oversight and coordination for the joint Facility, while SS-GATE will be designated as the implementing entity. A number of the national centres will also function as sub-regional centres overseeing work in the other LDCs. The national focal persons at these offices will ideally be an existing sub-regional coordinator of the projects in their respective sub-region. Such sub-regional centres would help identify actors in the LDCs and on the demand and supply side, and identify and source available technologies through SS-GATE. The sub-regional focal points will also coordinate mutual activities, and lend support to the smooth functioning of country centres under their purview. To do so, sub-regional focal persons will establish and maintain a strong regional network of national focal persons through regular physical and/or virtual interactions with the aim of deepening the role of the Facility. An added advantage of this arrangement is that it will make it possible to replicate and/or scale up successful initiatives. It is preferable that sub-regional centres be equipped with capabilities to successfully undertake unencumbered multi-country operations. The programming at the sub-regional level will take into account country and sub-regional comparative advantage, and the technology needs for an overarching LDC concerns in the areas such as, sustainable agriculture, dairy and agro-food processing, water management, global health, climate change adaptation/renewable energy etc. Launch of South-South Technology Transfer Facility for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) 9

10 UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION» SPECIAL REPORT Proposed Pilot Countries The roll-out plan for the Facility calls for the willing participation of countries to pilot the project. Interested countries can express their interest to UNOSSC and/or UN-OHRLLS. Project ownership at the country level requires financial and/or in-kind contribution towards meeting the budgetary needs of planned activities. Pilot countries could make available, as part of their contribution, office space, office equipment and local staff as elaborated in the budget estimates. Other responsibilities of a pilot country would include supporting SS-GATE in different ways such as facilitating, scheduling and coordinating travels and training activities organized within the country. Main responsibilities of the pilot countries will include but not limited to: 1. Nominate a suitable sub-regional centre that will source viable entities and/or projects in the selected focus area; 2. Provide input into the technology transfer plans/strategies based on local needs; 3. Support and promote the establishment of countries centers in all LDCs; 4. Facilitate negotiations among matched entities; and 5. Liaise with the Facility and other stakeholders for project promotion, replication and scaling up as well as resource mobilization. Role of Principal Partners The principle parties of the LDC Facility are as follows: 1. UNOSSC; 2. UN-OHRLLS; 3. Benin Business Promotion Centre (BBPC); 4. UNDP Country Office Benin; 5. Government of Benin (Ministry of Industry, Trade and SMEs); and 6. SS-GATE. 10

11 THE WAY FORWARD The launching of the Facility represented political commitment from the primary institutional partners (UNOSSC and UN-OHRLLS) to commit focused support for LDCs through South-South technology transfer. In 2015, these political commitments will be translated into concrete actions by initiating efforts to mobilize partnerships and resources in order to begin to operationalize the Facility. In the first phase of the roll-out, pilot LDC members will be nominated to carry out the initial activities of the Facility. A South-South/triangular technology transfer plan will be developed for each of the pilot LDCs based on their respective medium term (3-5 years) national investment plans and sector specific strategies. To coordinate the roll-out and initial activities of the Facility, a steering committee comprised of the main partners will be formed. Following the successful roll-out of the Facility, SS-GATE staff will document lessons learned and apply the refined methodology to launch the Facility over the next 3-5 years, pending available resources to be mobilized. The initial phase of the roll-out will also involve concerted resource mobilization and partnership building activities to provide the Facility with seed funding to begin operations. Financial resources can be channelled through the United Nations Fund for South-South Cooperation (formerly the Voluntary Trust Fund for the Promotion of South-South Cooperation) which is managed by UNOSSC. The Fund is included in the UN Pledging Conference for Development Activities as a result of the decision by the General Assembly in December 2002 (resolution 57/263). More information about the Fund can be found at the following website: Financial resources can be distributed to Facility principals directly from the Fund at the discretion of the Steering Committee. For UN agencies, Member States, and other institutions that are interested in supporting the Facility or South-South cooperation in general, please contact Ms. Teresa Liu, Chief of Division of Development Solutions and Technology Exchange, UNOSSC (teresa.liu@undp.org), for more information on how to contribute. Launch of South-South Technology Transfer Facility for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) 11

12 UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION» SPECIAL REPORT ANNEX 1. SS-GATE PARTNERSHIPS Public-private partnerships are a building-block of the SS-GATE system. The SS-GATE initiative is made possible by collaborations with multiple partners including municipalities, country governments and international organizations within and outside the UN system. ORGANIZATION EXAMPLES OF SS-GATE PARTNERSHIPS SS-GATE & World Bank partnered to launch the East Africa Climate Innovation Network (EACIN), which is comprised of 5 countries: Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Tanzania. EACIN was launched to regionalize the services of World Bank s Climate Innovation Center in Nairobi, Kenya, which aims to develop early stage climate-related technologies through business incubation and enterprise development services. Instead of building this regional network from scratch, World Bank partnered with SS-GATE to leverage its networks in East Africa and to utilize its services to source climate technologies and innovations and to mobilize the private sector through project matchmaking (matching supply and demand). Officially launched in 2012 with SS-GATE as the key implementing partner, EACIN has already yielded some important achievements including: 300+ locally sourced environment related projects and innovations have been given regional and global visibility through the SS-GATE network. Local staff capacity enhanced through training workshops. Mobilized financing for a $21 million hydropower plant in Tanzania. The deal was envisaged to result in the direct employment of at least 500 workers during the construction phase and 40 permanent employees when fully operational. Between , SS-GATE utilized private sector funding from the South and partnered with UNFCCC and the Office of the President of the General Assembly, which offset approximately 6,400 tonnes of CO2 emissions to support CDM projects that resulted from several UN sanctioned events including: UNGA Rio+20 Summit (2012): SS-GATE received a special award from the President of the General Assembly (PGA) for its outstanding contribution to sustainable development. Furthermore, PGA requested SS-GATE services to offset future UN General Assembly meetings where applicable. UN Climate Change Conference (COP17) in Durban, South Africa (2011): SS-GATE received special recognition award from UNFCCC Deputy Director. UNFCCC UN Pavilion at the World Expo in Shanghai, China (2010). These efforts benefited CDM projects in Turkey, South Africa and Zambia. 12

13 SS-GATE supported the scaling-up of sustainable development solutions by mobilizing private sector participation at the 2013 Global South-South Development Expo, hosted by UNEP. SS-GATE facilitated matchmaking between investors, green businesses, governments and other stakeholders. This intervention led to several important achievements including: $450+ million in pledged deals between local enterprises in various green sectors, in particular clean energy. 148 companies listed their projects on the SS-GATE web-platform, signaling a desire for partnerships that will grow their business/products. 40 companies were successfully matched with relevant partners and financiers on-site. In the post-expo phase, SS-GATE utilized its platform to help facilitate transactions among matched companies to scale-up impact. SS-GATE s Global Health Exchange Platform (SS-GHX), jointly launched with WHO/PAHO, was endorsed as a sustainable business model by UN Secretary General s Every Woman, Every Child (EWEC) initiative to accelerate MDGs 4 & 5 by disseminating and scaling up innovations. WHO/PAHO List of Partners FAO United Nations Foundation World Bank/MIGA GLOBAL FHI 360 IFAD UN General Assembly UN Global Compact WHO/PAHO WIPO IFC ILO CTI Private Financing Advisory Network UNAIDS UNCTAD/ITC UNDP UNEP UNESCO UNFCCC UNIDO UN-OHRLLS UNOPS The UN Global Fund to Fight AIDS The OPEC Fund for International Development The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health REGIONAL African Centre for Technology Studies East Africa Climate Innovation Network Pacific Islands Private Sector Organization Caribbean Centre for Competitiveness China-Africa Business Council China-Africa Development Fund Inter-American Development Bank Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture TECHNONET AFRICA TECHNONET ASIA Union of South American Nations NATIONAL & COUNTRY CENTRES Austria Bahrain Bangladesh Benin Cameroon China * D.R. Congo Costa Rica Cote d Ivoire Egypt Ghana Guatemala India Iran Japan Kazakhstan Kenya Malaysia Mauritius Mongolia Mozambique Nigeria * Norway Pakistan Philippines Rwanda Samoa Senegal South Africa Sri Lanka Sudan Switzerland Tanzania Thailand Turkey Uganda United States Vietnam Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe * Country also made financial contribution(s) Launch of South-South Technology Transfer Facility for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) 13

14 UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION» SPECIAL REPORT ANNEX 2. PRESS RELEASE: LDC FACILITY LAUNCH Cotonou, Benin; 31 July 2014 In partnership with the Republic of Benin and the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) through its flagship programme, the South-South Global Assets and Technology Exchange (SS-GATE) mobilized a delegation of 115 private sector entities to the Ministerial Meeting on New Partnerships for Productive Capacity Building in the Least Developed Countries held in Cotonou, Benin from July As a result of SS-GATE facilitation, two MoUs were signed between a Beninese and Ugandan enterprise and a Nigerian and Ugandan enterprise, respectively who had been connected through the SS-GATE Business Matchmaking Space, a business-networking platform that was offered to participants throughout the duration of the conference. One of the MoUs, signed between representatives of the Songhai Centre in Benin and Bio-green Investments East Africa Ltd. in Uganda, represents a potential investment of $10 million with the support of Uganda. The agreement, which was witnessed by Mr. Matia Kasaija, Ugandan State Minister for Finance (Planning) and Mr. Tony Wamala, representative of the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce (an SS-GATE country centre), aims to replicate the successful Songhai model in Uganda. The MoU signed between the Nigerian and Ugandan enterprises is worth approximately $2 million. The SS-GATE Business Matchmaking Space was inaugurated in a ribbon cutting ceremony on 28 July 2014 by President Boni Yayi, alongside Mr. Gyan Acharya, Under-Secretary- General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), Ms. Nkosazana Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and Mr. Yiping Zhou, Director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC). 14

15 Over 100 enterprises and entrepreneurs utilized the SS-GATE Business Matchmaking Space over the course of the conference proceedings. In addition to the signed MoUs, 25 companies signed service agreements with SS-GATE, officially coming to terms with regulated codes of conduct. Through these service agreements, SS-GATE committed to follow-up operations to ensure that the parties that were registered during the conference are provided the services needed to scaleup their businesses through strategic partnerships. On 28 July, during the opening session of the conference, Mr. Acharya and Mr. Zhou participated in a signing ceremony that officially launched the South-South Technology Transfer Facility for the LDCs, a joint initiative between UN-OHRLLS and UNOSSC that aims to use SS-GATE s global technology transfer platform to bring targeted support for LDCs. The signing ceremony was witnessed by President Yayi. In a separate ceremony on 29 July, during the session on Public-Private Partnerships and South- South Cooperation in Support of Technological Acquisition, the Benin Business Promotion Centre signed an agreement with SS-GATE to host the newly launched Facility with the support of UNDP s Country Office in Benin. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Mr. Zhou of UNOSSC and Ms. Naomie Azaria Honhoui, Minister of Industry, Trade and SMEs for Benin. The Facility is designed to enable South-South transfer of viable, sector-specific technologies aimed at developing and strengthening capacities and production in LDCs. This initiative is a direct response to the specific challenges that face LDCs in various areas such as sustainable agriculture, dairy and agro-food processing, water management, global health, climate change adaptation and renewable energy. This initiative signifies the partnership strategy undertaken by SS-GATE, which establishes specialized institutional partnerships to deliver services to targeted clientele, in this case, the LDCs. The deal between Songhai Centre in Benin and Bio-green Investments East Africa Ltd. in Uganda represents the first successful transfer facilitated by the Facility. The signing ceremony was followed by a specially convened session on project finance led by the CEO of Société Générale in Benin. The project financing session, which was attended by over 50 participants from the private sector, was convened to meet the demand from SMEs, enterprises and entrepreneurs to provide financial advisory services. For more information, please contact: Ms. Teresa Liu - teresa.liu@undp.org Chief, Division of Development Solutions and Technology Exchange UN Office for South-South Cooperation Mr. Christopher Paek - christopher.paek@undp.org Communications Consultant UN Office for South-South Cooperation Launch of South-South Technology Transfer Facility for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) 15

16 For more information, please contact: Ms. Teresa Liu Chief, Division of Development Solutions and Technology Exchange UN Office for South-South Cooperation Mr. Christopher Paek Communications Consultant UN Office for South-South Cooperation