Permanent Mission of India

New York
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Interactive Dialogue 5: Small Island Developing States – Strategies for SDG Success

Statement delivered by Ms. Petal Gahlot, First Secretary

8 July 2026

Thank you, Mr. Vice-President.

Small Island Developing States continue to face unique vulnerabilities that constrain sustainable development despite their strong commitment to the 2030 Agenda.

India attaches great importance to its partnerships with SIDS across the Caribbean, Pacific and Indian Ocean regions. Through demand-driven development cooperation, India has supported renewable energy, digital public infrastructure, disaster resilience, healthcare, capacity-building and climate adaptation in SIDS, including through the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.

The successful implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS requires adequate and predictable means of implementation. Financing challenges cannot be addressed by shifting additional burdens onto developing countries. There is a need for strengthened international support, including concessional finance, technology transfer on mutually agreed terms, capacity-building and enhanced access to climate and development finance for SIDS.

Our collective efforts should strengthen national institutions, implementation capacities, resilient infrastructure and practical partnerships that enable SIDS to pursue nationally determined development pathways, so that no one is left behind.

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