[Check against delivery]

Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, dear partners,

Thank you for this rich and timely discussion. 

Let me begin by thanking my colleagues at UNOPS Global Portfolio Office, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and the governments of India, Uganda, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for being part of this important conversation.

What we have heard today is both encouraging and sobering.

Encouraging because there is tangible progress. 

Member states are taking steps to strengthen how they plan, finance, and manage infrastructure. The examples shared show that change is indeed possible.

It is however also sobering because tangible constraints clearly remain. Capacity gaps remain. Financing is limited. And too often, systems are not designed to support long-term sustainability.

One message came through clearly: there is strong demand from Member States for practical, implementable solutions for infrastructure asset management.

The partnership between UNOPS and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) has the potential to fundamentally enable and support these efforts, especially as we work to accelerate development and deliver on the Sevilla Financing for Development Commitments.  

Let me share a few reflections. 

First, on infrastructure. It is fundamental to development. 

Infrastructure influences 92 per cent of all targets across the Sustainable Development Goals. It shapes access of communities to health, education, water, energy, and connectivity.

It also has both a substantial carbon footprint - and is key to climate action. 

Infrastructure is responsible for nearly 80 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions and accounts for nearly 90 per cent of all adaptation costs. 

In the world we are currently living in, risks are only growing. The impacts of climate change and natural hazards could bring losses of up to 14 per cent of global GDP annually.

So the way we design, build and manage infrastructure can determine whether we can deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals and climate action - or fall short. The clock is ticking, we are less than four years away from the deadline. 

Second, while funding and money is a great enabler but never the only solution, we must be open about the current funding landscape. 

There is a significant funding gap. 

Countries face an estimated annual financing gap of 4 trillion USD to deliver sustainable development, particularly in energy, water, and sanitation.

And critical to add to the mix the factor of “how” funding is spent. 

Too often, we see a "build-neglect-rebuild" cycle.

Governments tend to focus on new projects, even though capital expenditures only represent a small share - 15–30 per cent - of the total cost of infrastructure over its lifetime. The remaining 70 to 85 per cent relate to operations and maintenance.

This brings us to the third point: infrastructure asset management. 

To use public financial resources wisely - it is time to shift the focus, crucial at a time of expanding government debt and dwindling financial resources. 

Effective asset management allows us to address the majority of the costs - those linked to operations and maintenance. It helps prevent expensive reconstruction. 

Extending the life of existing infrastructure assets through refurbishment and maintenance also reduces  carbon emissions associated with new construction, supporting climate action. 

Most importantly - it strengthens fiscal responsibility. Moving toward a lifecycle finance approach  maximises the use of resources, reducing technical and financial losses.

Fourth, let me briefly reflect on the mandate and expertise of UNOPS. 

Infrastructure is at the heart of UNOPS’ mandate. 

The agency supports governments and other partners in planning, designing, and implementing infrastructure projects aligned with national priorities and the SDGs. The UNOPS teams bring practical solutions, working on the ground with all of our partners to create tangible results for the communities we serve. 

UNOPS supports capacity building - offering technical assistance, helping governments assess their systems, identify gaps and implement improvements to their infrastructure systems. 

This is where the UNOPS partnership with the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) is so critical and timely. 

Together, UNOPS is supporting governments to improve quality, performance, and value of  infrastructure systems. 

Our teams around the world are working on enabling environment assessments, strengthening institutional capacity, and helping shift the focus from short-term capital investments to long-term lifecycle approaches. To emphasize sustainability, inclusion, and resilient systems. 

This approach is fully aligned with the “Sevilla Commitment”, which provides political backing for infrastructure asset management. 

And this brings me to the final point: the main gap today is not ambition - it is implementation. 

Countries know what needs to be done - the challenge is to do it - consistently and at scale. 

Looking ahead, there are clear opportunities for future cooperation.

We must continue to support governments in delivering on the Sevilla Commitment. 

This includes identifying carbon sources, implementing nature-based solutions, and improving disaster preparedness.

We must explore solutions that help bridge the financing gap - by fostering new partnerships to help mobilise and manage resources more effectively, including through effective infrastructure asset management. 

And above all - let us remain focused on practical solutions. Tools, systems and approaches that can be implemented in accordance with different contexts: political, geo-political, socio-economic and environmental - to overcome constraints and challenges. 

Infrastructure is key to sustainable development. Getting this right can make or break progress on the SDGs.  

Getting it right depends on what we build together  - and on how we manage the resources we already have.