CFC Commends Outgoing ECOSOC President's Leadership and Looks Forward to Continued Collaboration through the LDC Group
New York, 22 July 2026 — Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Managing Director of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), met with H.E. Mr. Lok Bahadur Thapa, President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations, on the margins of the Financing for Development Forum in New York.
The meeting was joined by Dr. Mariangela Parra-Lancourt, Chief of the Strategic Engagement and Policy Integration Branch, UN DESA, reflecting the shared commitment of ECOSOC, UN DESA, and the CFC to advancing the implementation of the Sevilla Commitment and strengthening support for commodity-dependent developing countries.
The meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the 2026 ECOSOC session and to discuss the next phase of international cooperation in support of commodity-dependent developing countries under CFC Humanizing the Value Chain principle. Ambassador Belal expressed his sincere appreciation to H.E. Mr. Thapa for his leadership as President of ECOSOC, particularly in advancing dialogue on financing for development, food systems transformation, and the implementation of the Sevilla Commitment.
"I would like to express my sincere appreciation to President Thapa for his outstanding leadership during the ECOSOC presidency and throughout the Financing for Development process. We are equally grateful to Dr. Mariangela Parra-Lancourt and the UN DESA team for their dedication in bringing the Sevilla Commitment to fruition. The inclusion of paragraph 46 marks an important recognition that commodity-dependent developing countries require greater international attention, stronger productive capacities, and more value addition. CFC stands ready to support the implementation of this important commitment." Ambassador Belal said.
Looking ahead, Ambassador Belal expressed CFC's interest in working with Member States and the United Nations system to foster a more structured political dialogue and cooperation mechanism dedicated to commodity transformation. Such an initiative would help sustain international attention on the challenges facing commodity-producing countries while promoting investment, value addition, productive capacity, and resilient livelihoods.
"Our objective is to ensure that commodity transformation remains a sustained priority within the international development agenda. By strengthening political dialogue and cooperation, we can help commodity-producing countries capture greater value from their natural resources, build productive capacities, and create more resilient and prosperous rural economies," Ambassador Belal added.
H.E. Mr. Thapa welcomed the CFC's continued engagement and acknowledged the organization's important contribution to advancing practical solutions for commodity-dependent economies.
"The Common Fund for Commodities plays a unique and important role in supporting commodity-dependent developing countries. By strengthening productive capacity, promoting value addition, and supporting fairer outcomes for smallholder farmers and rural communities, the CFC is helping translate the ambitions of the Sevilla Commitment into meaningful impact on the ground, and I look forward to seeing its continued contribution to its implementation," H.E. Mr. Thapa said.
As H.E. Mr. Thapa concludes his presidency of ECOSOC, Ambassador Belal also expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to continue working closely with him in his capacity as Chair of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group in New York. Both sides recognized that, with more than 80 percent of LDCs remaining commodity-dependent, continued collaboration would provide an important platform for advancing the interests of the countries that stand to benefit most from strengthened commodity value chains, increased value addition, and enhanced productive capacity.
"Development begins with people. Humanizing the value chains means ensuring that those who cultivate the world's commodities receive a fair share of the value they create. When farmers prosper, communities prosper, and sustainable development becomes a reality rather than an aspiration," Ambassador Belal said. The Common Fund for Commodities looks forward to working with ECOSOC, the LDC Group, and the wider United Nations system to advance practical partnerships that promote sustainable livelihoods, resilient food systems, and inclusive economic transformation across commodity-dependent developing countries.
About the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC)
The CFC is a UN-affiliated international financial institution based in Amsterdam, working in over 100 countries to support inclusive economic development through impact investing in commodity value chains.
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CFC Media Relations Team
Email: managing.director@common-fund.org
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