New York, 5 May, 2026 — During the special joint meeting of ECOSOC and the United Nations General Assembly, titled "From Digital Inclusion to Innovation: Promoting Science, Technology, and Youth Entrepreneurship for Development", Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, reaffirmed that science, technology and innovation constitute a strategic necessity and an indispensable right to advance toward sustainable development.
In his remarks at United Nations Headquarters, the Ambassador recalled that this vision was endorsed by the countries of the South at the Summit of the Group of 77 and China in Havana, where initiatives were promoted such as the proclamation of September 16 as the International Day of Science, Technology, and Innovation for the South, as well as the convening of this forum within the framework of the 80th session of the General Assembly.
The Permanent Representative warned of the profound inequalities in access to knowledge and technology, stressing that scientific advances remain an unfulfilled promise for most countries in the Global South. He emphasized that this gap reflects an unjust and exclusionary international order that requires urgent transformation.
He also noted that, despite the challenges facing developing countries, the resilience, creativity, and diversity of their peoples constitute a solid foundation for strengthening South-South and triangular cooperation, especially in a context of declining North-South cooperation and official development assistance.
Ambassador Soberón Guzmán reaffirmed that science must be at the service of humanity, a principle that has guided Cuba’s international cooperation, particularly in the field of health. He highlighted the presence of Cuban medical collaboration in 165 countries, its contribution to saving millions of lives, and the development of innovative medicines and domestically produced vaccines.
Likewise, he denounced the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the U.S. government, along with the current energy blockade, as a serious obstacle to Cuba’s scientific and technological development and an act of collective punishment. Nevertheless, he reiterated the country’s determination to continue moving forward based on its own efforts and international solidarity.
Finally, the Permanent Representative called for revitalizing international cooperation and supporting the Global South in developing its own scientific and technological capacities, in line with national realities and priorities, as an essential way to guarantee that science and knowledge are really at the service of humanity.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.