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Held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from 31 March to 1 April 2026, the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Mid-Term Review of the Doha Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries (2022鈥�2031) brought together governments and partners to assess progress and chart the way forward. Several of them including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal and the Solomon Islands are on the path to graduating from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category.

The United Nations Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries (UNTB) joined this mid-term review which marked an important moment to reflect on progress and emerging challenges faced by LDCs.

Convened by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UNOHRLLS), the high-level meeting brought together representatives from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) across the Asia-Pacific region, alongside development partners.The gathering provided a timely platform to assess achievements, exchange good practices, and explore solutions to sustain momentum toward LDC graduation.

Asian LDCs have made notable progress in recent years, with several countries advancing steadily toward graduation. Improvements in livelihoods and development indicators reflect sustained national efforts and international support. However, participants also underscored that global shocks continue to pose significant challenges, affecting development gains and slowing progress in some contexts.

In his intervention, Deodat Maharaj, UNTB鈥檚  Managing Director emphasized both the opportunities and the risks associated with this transition. While graduation represents a major milestone, ensuring that progress is sustained beyond this status remains critical. In this context, leveraging technology and innovation for low-cost high-impact solutions becomes more important than ever. Notwithstanding the challenges faced, LDCs also have many good practices in the technology and innovation space that they can share via South-South and triangular cooperation.

Discussions therefore focused not only on achieving graduation but also on the policies and instruments required to support a smooth and durable transition.

Trade and investment emerged as key enablers in this regard. Many LDCs continue to rely heavily on preferential market access to support their export-driven growth. For example, Bangladesh鈥檚 development trajectory has been closely linked to such access to major markets. As countries graduate, the potential loss of these preferences鈥攑articularly in key markets such as Europe鈥攚ill have significant implications for their export performance and economic stability.

The particular challenges of small islands state in terms of their acute climate vulnerability was highlighted by Tuvalu and the Solomon Islands. Representatives from these countries also highlighted the massive impacts created by global crises on their small and highly vulnerable economies.

Against this backdrop, the meeting highlighted the importance of preparing countries for post-graduation realities. Strengthening productive capacities, diversifying economies, and enhancing competitiveness were identified as essential steps to mitigate risks and sustain development gains. Technology and innovation are essential in this regard.

The Mid-Term Review ultimately served as a valuable opportunity to reaffirm commitments, share lessons learned, and reinforce partnerships. As more countries approach graduation, ensuring that no progress is reversed鈥攁nd that development gains translate into long-term resilience鈥攔emains a shared priority for the international community. UNTB is committed to supporting this agenda given its recognition by the Doha Programme of Action as a key entity to leverage science, technology and innovation to help LDCs fast-track their development.

About the UN Technology Bank  

The UN Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries is dedicated to enhancing the contribution of science, technology and innovation for sustainable development in the world鈥檚 44 least developed countries. The least developed countries are low-income countries confronting severe structural impediments to sustainable development. They are highly vulnerable to economic and environmental shocks and have low levels of human assets.  

The UN Technology Bank supports national and regional technological efforts in the least developed countries, reinforcing partnerships across sectors and helping nations identify and use appropriate technologies to transform their economies and improve livelihoods.

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