Qatar is hosting the UN-led conference from March 5-9, 2023
Minister of State for External Affairs and Education, Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh will embark on a two-day (March 6 to7) visit to Doha, the Qatari capital to attend the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5), the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.



The LDC5 is a decennial conference focusing on renewed partnerships for the development of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).


On March 6, MoS Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh will deliver India’s National Statement and will be a panellist in the Round Table titled “Leveraging the power of Science and Technology and innovation for the sustainable development of LDCs.”



The MoS will also participate in the Ministerial Meeting of South-South Cooperation on the topic, “Renewed Partnerships for actionable solutions in support of implementation of the Doha Programme of Action” on March7, 2023.


The 5-day conference will witness various world leaders, the private sector, civil society, parliamentarians, and young people.



On the sidelines of LDC5, the MoS will have several bilateral engagements with his counterparts, especially from LDCs and will host a working lunch for partner countries from Africa and interact with the Indian diaspora.



Further, the conference, with the motto “From Potential to Prosperity” will provide a platform to advance new ideas, raise new pledges of support, and spur the delivery of agreed commitments through the Doha Programme of Action.



The leaders participating in the 5th Least Developed Countries Conference will undertake a comprehensive appraisal of the implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries (IPoA) along with mobilizing additional support measures and taking action in favour of LDCs.



Besides, the leaders will agree on a renewed partnership between LDCs and their development partners to overcome structural challenges, eradicate poverty, achieve internationally agreed development goals, and enable graduation from the LDC category.



India has been a leading voice for the least developed nations. It has addressed the problems faced by the developing and underdeveloped world to the UN and other international forums.



India has taken the initiative to organize the “Voice of Global South Summit,” which is another demonstration of its dedication to developing and underdeveloped nations.



Under India’s current G20 presidency, at several platforms, issues affecting developing and emerging nations issues have been brought up so that concrete actions can be taken to provide solutions.



It should be noted that 13% of the world’s population lives in LDCs, which are home to 40% of the world’s poor, and that the full realization of the SDGs depends greatly on their development.



Despite having a vast population, these LDCs contribute only 1.35% of global trade and FDI, which is a very low percentage.



There are a total of 46 LDCs and of them, a majority are in Africa, according to the UN.