JEF President Wayne Chen attended the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States

 JEF President Wayne Chen attended the 4thInternational Conference on Small Island Developing States called the SIDS Global Business Network Forum (SIDS-GBN Forum) 2024 in St. John’s Antigua. The summary of the SIDS Global Business Network Forum (SIDS-GBN Forum) 2024 is now available on the event website.

The Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4)

The international community gathered in Antigua and Barbuda from 27 – 30 May 2024 to highlight the challenges that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face on a daily basis. There was agreement amongst participants that SIDS remain a special case for sustainable development owing to their unique challenges from its small size, geographical remoteness, narrow resource base making them vulnerable to external shocks. From this understanding, the General Assembly adopted a new declaration for renewed prosperity - the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS).

View SIDS4 conference website

The ABAS is the new 10 year programme of action for the SIDS. It puts forth a new, ambitious course for SIDS’ sustainable development.

View the ABAS and the Sustainable Development Goals

To effectively address the challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS), it is imperative that all stakeholders, from global, regional, and local levels, including member states, development partners, and the UN System, work together.

About UN-OHRLLS & the SIDS-GBN

The United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) was established in 2001. It advocates for SIDS and raises awareness about their unique vulnerabilities, working to ensure their needs are high on the agenda of the entire international system.

Spearheaded by UN-OHRLLS, the Small Island Developing States Global Business Network actively engages the private sector and facilitates public-private partnerships which support the Antigua & Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS). Additionally, the Network promotes the sharing of best practices for sustainable and inclusive private sector development in SIDS, aligning with both the ABAS and the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Outcomes of the SIDS-GBN Forum 2024

The 2024 Forum was held on 25-26 May in St. John’s, Antigua & Barbuda, offering a unique platform for the private sector to engage with the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) and the Antigua & Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS).

The summary provides an overview of the Forum and its preparatory process, as well as the future of the SIDS-GBN within the new decade for SIDS.

Annex iii “Private Sector Priorities in Support of the ABAS” provides an overview of actionable outcomes that emerged throughout the Forum and its preparatory process. The document lists a set of recommendations and action points on how to strengthen SIDS’ private sectors and facilitate Public-Private Partnerships in support of the ABAS within the areas of Blue-Green Economy, Local Community Empowerment, the Enabling Business Environment, as well as Financing & Investment.

To bring the outcomes from talk to action, UN-OHRLLS will advocate for these priorities and mobilize support for its implementation. Over the course of the next decade for SIDS, the work of the SIDS-GBN will be guided by these priorities. The SIDS-GBN Forum 2026 will provide an opportunity to take stock of the progress.