The idea of having a think tank for LLDCs was initiated by the President of Mongolia at the meeting of LLDC heads of state in 2006. In July 2009, the first ever international intergovernmental organization headquartered in Mongolia ‘The International Think Tank for LLDC’ was officially launched in Ulaanbaatar by H.E. Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General during his official visit to Mongolia.
The Multilateral Agreement for the establishment of an International Think Tank for LLDCs was endorsed at the meeting of Foreign Ministers of LLDCs. According to the Article 12.1 of the Agreement, it is stated “the Agreement shall enter into force on the sixtieth day after the date of deposit of the 10th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession”. 10 countries including Mongolia, Lao PDR, Armenia, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Burkina Faso, Paraguay, Kyrgyz, Tajikistan and Nepal ratified the agreement and it was entered into force on October 6, 2017.
The Interim Secretariat of the International Think Tank for LLDCs in cooperation with the UN Office of the High Representative for Landlocked Developing Countries organized a global press conference in New York on October 6 on the occasion of the entry into force of the Multilateral Agreement for the establishment of an ITT for LLDCs.
Participants of the joint press briefing were:
· H.E. Ms. Fekitamoeloa ‘Utoikamanu, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States,
· H.E. Mr. Odbayar Erdenetsogt, Ambassador at-Large and Interim Director of the International Think Tank for LLDCs,
· H.E. Mr. Lazarous Kapambwe, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations and Chair of Landlocked Developing Countries.
