(Non-official translation)
Segment dedicated to the UNDP. January 31, 2024.
Mr. President:
Dear UNDP Administrator,
Distinguished members of the Executive Board and other delegations.
We thank Administrator Achim Steiner for his comprehensive remarks, which demonstrates the efforts made by this entity to support the path to development of our countries.
The current context continues to be complex, especially for developing countries. The most recent data indicates that the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals is not on track.
The use and application of science, technology and innovation can accelerate the achievement of the SDGs, but access to these tools remains a challenge for developing nations.
The UNDP has been a fundamental actor in promoting the use of new technologies, and in that sense we recognize the special attention that the entity has given to these areas. In Cuba, UNDP has contributed to the optimization of management and decision-making processes in different sectors through the application of digital technologies from productive units to the territorial and national level. In this sense, we highlight the creation, together with our national authorities, of a digital platform to measure contributions to the SDGs from national and territorial programs. Likewise, a platform was designed for decision-making related to environmental management at the local level and the transfer of digital solutions was promoted to improve water management in the country, to mention a few.
These examples reflect that digital transformation provides innovative solutions and opens new opportunities to achieve higher levels of development.
In Cuba, the restrictions associated with the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States government affect access to various external sources of financing and some technologies, which is why it continues to be the main obstacle to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
We thank UNDP for the work it carries out on the ground and encourage it to continue promoting the development of science and technology in our countries. To this end, we insist on the importance of the entity having sufficient regular resources to allow it to be strategic and flexible, and to provide predictable differentiated services based on the needs of the countries in which programs are executed.
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate my delegation's commitment to continue strengthening the ties of cooperation between Cuba and the UNDP, while reiterating our willingness to work together in these spheres, through South-South and Triangular Cooperation.
Thank you so much.