Thank you, President.

Rwanda aligns itself with the statements delivered by the G77 and China, the LDC and African Group and welcomes the report on UNCTAD’s activities in support of Africa.

We appreciate the increased resources devoted to the continent and value the practical assistance provided to Rwanda. UNCTAD’s assistance has supported Rwanda’s efforts to strengthen trade facilitation through digital tools, including the Reform Tracker, the Rwanda Electronic Single Window and the Trade Information Portal. These initiatives support greater transparency, coordination and accountability in implementing trade-related reforms.

More recently, cooperation on climate-smart trade facilitation has introduced an additional dimension: assessing how reforms can reduce trading time and costs alongside associated carbon emissions. Rwanda values this practical connection between trade facilitation, digitalization and environmental sustainability.

Looking ahead, support to Africa should be sustained, predictable and delivered at sufficient scale. It should strengthen national institutions and implementation capacities in areas where UNCTAD has a clear comparative advantage, including trade facilitation, investment policy, digital trade and debt management.

UNCTAD’s assistance can also make an important contribution to the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area. Particular attention should be given to practical constraints affecting intra-African trade, including non-tariff barriers, customs procedures, access to trade information, compliance with standards and the capacity of local enterprises to participate in regional value chains.

We encourage UNCTAD to continue aligning its assistance with national and continental priorities and to deepen cooperation with the African Union, regional economic communities and national institutions. Stronger coordination, adequate and predictable funding, and greater attention to measurable results will be essential to move towards sustained development impact.

I thank you.