Focus on South-South cooperation

THE high level international meeting on 'South-South and Triangular Cooperation in the Post-2015 Development Agenda' that ended yesterday has highlighted the need for sharing and exchange of development solutions – of knowledge, experiences and best practices – among countries in the global South. This will facilitate the realisation of targeted SDG goals. We applaud the initiative for stronger political, social and economic coalitions and partnerships among governments, private sector, civil society organisations in the South. South-South cooperation can be an impetus for economic development, enabling developing countries to reduce their dependency on the North. If road connectivity among all South Asian countries can be ensured, it alone would add 1.5 percent to the region's GDP.

However, despite the enormous potential of South-South cooperation, it must be acknowledged that no enduring and effective changes can take place without the political will and commitment from concerned governments. The ambivalent relations between some of the most powerful emerging nations in the South may cast a shadow over the rapid realisation of the potential for cooperation. It is unfortunate that South-South trade is considerably more costly than South-North trade and North-North trade. Southern countries, as such, should work together to facilitate trade and increase access to markets by reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers. 

In the end, commitment to connectivity – physical and digital– must become a cornerstone of regional as well as national policymaking thrusts.