Cooperation among developing countries key to economic growth – Migiro

United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro has emphasized the value of collaboration among developing countries while calling for greater efforts to manage the process.

“The potential – and popularity – of South-South Cooperation has never been greater,” Ms. Migiro said at a “brainstorming session” in New York on the issue on Thursday. “The recent strong economic performance of many developing countries has expanded opportunities for collaboration between them,” she noted.

With developing countries collaborating as never before on such pressing global issues as terrorism, migration or the spread of disease, the Deputy Secretary-General said this dynamism must be harnessed. “The rapid growth in intra-South cooperation necessitates a systematic and efficient approach towards managing the process,” she said.

“I am heartened by the Group of 77 and China’s efforts to review existing South-South cooperation, and to explore ways to enhance it in ways that can help achieve wider aims like the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),” a set of time-bound antipoverty targets agreed at a 2000 UN Summit.

In this effort, she told participants, “the United Nations will remain your partner every step of the way.”