Permanent Mission of Armenia to the UN convened a side event entitled “Closing the Financing Gap: The Infrastructure Investment and Financing Facility for Landlocked Developing[...]

Permanent Mission of Armenia to the UN convened a side event entitled "Closing the Financing Gap: The Infrastructure Investment and Financing Facility for Landlocked Developing Countries"

22 April, 2026

On 22 April 2026, on the margins of the ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development Follow-up, the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United Nations, together with the Office of the High Representative for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS, convened a side event entitled "Closing the Financing Gap: The Infrastructure Investment and Financing Facility for Landlocked Developing Countries". The event was moderated by Ambassador Paruyr Hovhannisyan.

The event brought together Member States, international financial institutions, multilateral development banks and other stakeholders to discuss approaches to addressing infrastructure financing challenges faced by landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), including in the context of paragraph 33(b) of the Sevilla Commitment.

Discussions focused on structural constraints faced by LLDCs, including high trade costs, infrastructure gaps and limited access to finance, as well as the need for coordinated cross-border approaches, strengthened project preparation and enhanced risk-sharing mechanisms.

Participants exchanged views on the potential design and added value of a dedicated Infrastructure Investment and Financing Facility (IIFF), including its role in mobilizing public and private investment, integrating climate resilience and supporting sustainable and bankable infrastructure pipelines.

Opening remarks were delivered by Deputy Minister of Finance of Armenia Edgar Mkrtchyan, Under-Secretary-General Rabab Fatima, and Acting Secretary-General of UNCTAD Pedro Moreno. The panel featured high-level representatives from LLDCs, multilateral development banks and partner institutions, contributing to an interactive discussion.