International Conference on Financing for Development begins in Addis Ababa – Minister Toivakka represents Finland

The summer's most important UN meeting will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 13–16 July. The Conference on Financing for Development is central for the preparation of the UN's new sustainable development objectives and action plan. Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Lenita Toivakka will attend the conference on its opening day, 13 July.

The conference aims to reach agreement on development financing and other measures to implement the sustainable development objectives. The conference will be attended by more than 7,000 participants representing governments, the private sector and the civic society.

"Development requires diversified means and financing. One of the key questions is how to use development cooperation for activating other sources of financing to foster sustainable development. The private sector and other flows of funding as well as means to develop the countries' own administration and tax collection capacity are essential in resolving this question. Finland has special expertise in these issues and we intend to strengthen our support to related measures", Minister Toivakka says.

At the conference, Finland will join a tax initiative with the aim of reinforcing the tax base of developing countries by 2020.

The sustainable development action plan and its objectives, known as the post-2015 Development Agenda, build on the UN Millennium Development Goals which have directed international development policies in the years 2000–2015. The content of the new action plan extending to the year 2030 is even more extensive and ambitious. Its most important objectives are to eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere and in all its forms and to foster sustainable development with a view to people's wellbeing, economic growth and the planetary boundaries. The objectives will concern all countries in the world – Finland included. Finland will negotiate as part of the European Union.

A final decision on the sustainable development goals and action plan will be made at the UN Summit in New York on 25–27 July.

Inquiries: Pekka Hukka, Counsellor, tel. +358 295 351747, [email protected], Emma Hannonen, Special Adviser to Minister Toivakka, tel. +358 50 574 0736, [email protected] (until 12.7. ), Pasi Rajala, Special Adviser to Minister Toivakka, tel. +358 400 464393 (as of 13.7.)

• Background: The Addis Ababa Conference on Financing for Development provides a basis for the implementation of the Post-2015 Agenda (pdf).
• Post-2015 process – new global sustainable development goals

Kirsi Pere
Information Officer

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