Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3)

The Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) was held in Awaza, Turkmenistan, under the theme “Driving Progress Through Partnerships.” The conference concluded with the adoption of the Awaza Political Declaration and the formal endorsement of the Awaza Programme of Action (2024–2034), a landmark framework aimed at accelerating sustainable development and resilience for the world’s 32 landlocked nations.

Challenges Faced by Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs)

The 32 LLDCs are home to over 600 million people and face significant geographical and structural constraints due to their lack of direct access to the sea. These challenges include:

• High Trade Costs: On average, transport costs for LLDCs are more than double those of their coastal neighbors, reducing their competitiveness in global markets.
• Dependence on Transit Countries: They rely heavily on transit nations for access to international markets, which can lead to delays and add to trade costs.
• Infrastructure Gaps: Many LLDCs have inadequate transport and digital infrastructure, which further isolates them.
• Vulnerability to Shocks: They are disproportionately affected by climate change and other external shocks, with disaster mortality rates significantly higher than the global average.