Minister welcomes successful conclusion at International Conference on Financing for Development

Minister Sherlock welcomes successful conclusion at International Conference on Financing for Development

The Minister of State for Development, Trade Promotion, and North South Co-Operation, Seán Sherlock, TD, has welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations and the adoption today of the “Addis Ababa Action Agenda” at the Third International Conference on Financing for Development in Ethiopia.

Speaking in Addis Ababa where he headed the Irish delegation this week, Minister Sherlock said:

“Today marks a significant step forward on our pledge to end poverty and create shared prosperity. The Addis Ababa Action Agenda will unlock the resources needed to end hunger and save the planet.

“This landmark agreement will provide the much needed resources, particularly for the world’s poorest countries, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals which we will adopt at the UN Summit in September.”

The Agenda will provide a new global framework for financing sustainable development for the next 15 years. It comprises measures and commitments to increase investment in crucial sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure and technology and raise domestic public revenues, including by scaling-up international tax cooperation, reducing illicit flows and strengthening business transparency. Countries also committed to increase Overseas Development Assistance and to focus on countries most in need, in particular Least Developed Countries, with a special focus on Africa.

The full agreement can be read here.

ENDS
Press Office
16 July 2015