Antigua and Barbuda’s Debt Manager, Peter Abraham Jr, has just completed two crucial meetings at the United Nations that focused on mobilising sustainable financing for development.
His participation underscored Antigua and Barbuda’s commitment to advancing the interests of all Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in bringing crucial reforms to the global financial architecture.
Abraham joined colleagues from around the world at the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Forum on Financing for Development on April 28 and 29, where he engaged in ministerial discussions on reducing borrowing costs, mobilizing private investment, and revitalizing international development cooperation.
He used the opportunity to highlight the fiscal vulnerabilities of SIDS and advocated for innovative solutions such as climate-resilient debt instruments and increased concessional finance.
The country’s Debt Manager also attended the Preparatory Committee for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) from 30 April to 1 May.
Antigua and Barbuda, through the Permanent Mission at the United Nations, has also been participating in a series of preparatory activities for the FFD4 conference, scheduled to take place in Spain from June 30 – July 3.
At this latest meeting, Abraham contributed to technical sessions on debt sustainability, international financial architecture reform, and domestic resource mobilization.
He emphasized the need for a fair, transparent, and responsive financing framework that meets the urgent needs of developing nations.
The Mission has also been spearheading the country’s participation at the preparatory meetings for the conference, seen as one the most crucial gatherings of financial experts, government leaders and development partners across the globe and will seek to meaningfully address some of the world’s most urgent and pressing financial challenges, many of them being faced by small and developing economies like Antigua and Barbuda.
Joining Abraham at the recent UN meetings was the Second Secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda Mission Jerri-Anne Jeremy.
The two conferences brought together ministers and high-level government officials as well as senior officials of international organizations, civil society and the business sector in an effort to help shape the discussions and outcome of the meeting in Spain.
“These meetings are instrumental in shaping global policy responses to the growing SDG financing gap, and Antigua and Barbuda remains steadfast in its advocacy for financial reforms that support resilience and equitable growth for all,” Abraham affirmed.