Statement at the Second Committee of the eightieth session of the United Nations General Assembly under agenda Item 16: “Promoting investments for sustainable development”

Delivered by Ms. Nigar Bayramli, Second Secretary

9 October 2025

Madame Chair,

Today’s discussion comes at a defining moment. The widening financing gaps for the Sustainable Development Goals demand innovative approaches to mobilize and align financial resources. In this context, the Seville Commitment, adopted at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, provides a renewed impetus for advancing a fairer and more inclusive global financial system.

Azerbaijan’s approach to financing sustainable development has been guided by the principles of integration, transparency, and innovation. To bridge potential financial gaps in funding the SDGs, Azerbaijan has employed the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) and the SDG Investor Map, drawing primarily on domestic resources. These instruments strengthen the link between policy planning and resource mobilization, improve the efficiency of public spending, and attract private investment to SDG-aligned sectors.

Our “2030 National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development” emphasize diversification, innovation, and sustainability. Guided by these priorities, we are fostering a competitive private sector and expanding investment in agriculture, water, transport, green energy partnerships and regional connectivity projects like the Middle Corridor and Green Energy Corridor. Investments in ports, railways, logistics hubs, and digital trade infrastructure guided by insights from the SDG Investor Map are enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and competitiveness across the wider region. These sectors are not only engines of growth but also key enablers of the SDGs.

As we approach COP30 in Brazil, as a COP29 President, Azerbaijan continues to engage with all relevant parties to ensure implementation of the Baku Finance Goal and to actively contribute to realization of “Baku to Belem Roadmap to 1.3 trillion”.  Our target of generating 40 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030 illustrates the alignment between our climate and development agendas.

Azerbaijan is also emerging as a model for South-South cooperation showing that middle-income countries can lead with accountability, financial innovation, and institutional reform. Over the past five years, our humanitarian and development assistance has exceeded 350 million US dollars, with a focus on SIDs and African countries. The Trust Fund established by the Government of Azerbaijan in partnership with UNDESA will further support institutional resilience, innovation, and capacity-building in developing nations.

Chair, as we advance the implementation of the Seville Commitment, Azerbaijan joins the growing call for closing the $4 trillion annual financing gap, catalyzing investments in developing countries and providing access to affordable finance. My country remains committed to promoting coherence between climate and development finance, mobilizing investment for sustainable growth, and supporting reforms that make the global financial architecture more inclusive and responsive.