2018: H.E. Inga Rhonda King (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)

2018-president

Her Excellency Inga Rhonda King was elected the President of the 2019 session (July 2018 to July 2019) of the Economic and Social Council on 26 July 2018. Ambassador Inga Rhonda King is the seventy-fourth President of the Council. Ambassador King is currently the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the United Nations in New York. 

Biography

Her Excellency Inga Rhonda King, who comes to diplomacy from the private sector, has lived and worked in several Caribbean countries, the United States of America, and China. She is a small business owner, business strategist, the author of three books, and a management accountant with more than two decades of professional experience. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and chemistry, is the immediate past chair of the Investment Promotions Agency of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Invest SVG), and a former Honorary Consul for Portugal to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Since becoming Permanent Representative in September 2013, Ambassador King has held several leadership roles which include:

  • Chair/Spokesperson of L69 (2016 - present), the largest reform group for the Security Council Reform of the United Nations.
  • Vice-President of the Economic and Social Council for the period 2017-2018.
  • Chair of the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly of the 71st Session (2016 - 2017). At the time of her chairmanship, she was only the second woman to chair this committee in the history of the United Nations.
  • Immediate-past chair of the Island Women Open Network (IWON) (2014 - July 2018). The IWON is tasked with ensuring gender-mainstreaming in the renewable energy sector of Small Island Developing States by building capacity at the grassroots and community level. The IWON is a part of the SIDS DOCK Secretariat platform. SIDS Dock is a UN registered SIDS International Organization.
Statements
31 October 2019Introduction of the Report of ECOSOC to the General Assembly
25 July 2019Statement at ECOSOC handover meeting
19 July 2019Closing remarks on 2019 High-level Segment of the Economic and Social Council
18 July 2019Closing statement at the High-level Political Forum
16 July 2019Opening remarks on Opening of the High-level segment of ECOSOC and the Ministerial segment of HLPF
16 July 2019Keynote Remarks on HLPF Side Event Seizing Momentum for a Resilient Future: A Systemic Approach to Addressing the DRR-Adaptation-Mitigation Nexus for Empowerment, Inclusiveness and Equality
16 July 2019Opening Remarks on Partnerships for Transformation: Philanthropy and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
15 July 2019Remarks on HLPF Side event: Accelerating progress on the SDGs through the implementation of the Global Action Programme (GAP) on Food Security and Nutrition in Small Island Developing States
15 July 2019Opening remarks on Informal Plenary Meeting on Gender Equality and Women’s Leadership for a Sustainable World: A Panel Discussion with the President’s Group of Gender Equality Leaders, delivered by H.E. Ambassador Mona Juul, Vice-President of the Economic and Social Council
15 July 2019Remarks on the occasion of the SOFI 2019 launch in New York
14 July 2019Opening remarks on Third Global VNR Workshop
12 July 2019Keynote Address on HLPF side event on “Human Rights and the 2030 Agenda: Leaving no one behind while accelerating SDG implementation”
9 July 2019Opening remarks on Hig-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
8 July 2019Opening remarks on ECOSOC Integration Segment "Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality"
29 June 2019Statement on Retreat on “Synergies among Developing Countries for Achieving a World Free of Terrorism and Agenda 2030”
26 June 2019Remarks on Briefing on the high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF) convened under the auspices of the Council (9 July 2019-18 July 2019), the high-level segment (16 July 2019-19 July 2019) and the Integration Segment (8 July 2019)
21 June 2019Remarks on Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace
14 June 2019Remarks at the briefing of the President of the General Assembly
6 June 2019Remarks on India-UN Development Partnership Fund Second Anniversary Event
4 June 2019Remarks on World Environment Day 2019
21 May 2019Opening Remarks on Operational Activities Segment, 
21 May 2019Statement on Africa Dialogue Series: “Towards Durable Solutions for Forcibly Displaced Persons in Africa”
20 May 2019Statement on Inaugural ECOSOC Presidential Lecture
20 May 2019Opening Statement on Twenty-eighth session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
16 May 2019Opening remarks at the President of the General Assembly’s High Level Meeting on Illicit Financial Flows
14 May 2019Opening Remarks on Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum)
13 May 2019Opening Statement on 22nd session of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development
13 May 2019Video Message on Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction
18 April 2019Closing Remarks on Fourth ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development follow-up
15 April 2019Opening Remarks on Fourth ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development follow-up
11 April 2019Closing Statement on 2019 ECOSOC Partnership Forum
11 April 2019Opening Statement on 2019 ECOSOC Partnership Forum
10 April 2019Remarks on High Level Event of the 73rd General Assembly on The Future of Work with Decent Work
9 April 2019Closing Statement on 8th Economic and Social Council Youth Forum “Youth: Empowered, Included and Equal”
8 April 2019Opening Statement on 8th Economic and Social Council Youth Forum “Youth: Empowered, Included and Equal”
4 April 2019Remarks on World Health Day “Universal health coverage: everyone, everywhere”
2 April 2019Closing Statement on ECOSOC Special Meeting on “Response to Cyclone Idai in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe”
2 April 2019Opening Statement on ECOSOC Special Meeting on “Response to Cyclone Idai in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe”
20 March 2019Statement to the opening of the Second United Nations High-level Conference on South-South Cooperation
15 March 2019Remarks on Leadership Dialogue 2: “Life-cycle approaches to resource efficiency, energy, chemicals and waste management”, Fourth session of the UN Environment Assembly
15 March 2019Remarks on Ministerial Luncheon: Innovative Policies and Solutions for a Circular Economy
11 March 2019Opening Statement of the twenty-first session of the Committee for Development Policy
11 March 2019Remarks on Climate and SDGs Interlinkages: How we can achieve the SDGs while curbing climate change
11 March 2019Opening Statement of the sixty-third session of the Commission on the Status of Women
14 February 2019Opening remarks on ECOSOC briefing on the “World Economic Situation and Prospects 2019”
11 February 2019Opening remarks on International Day of Women and Girls in Science “Investment in Women and Girls in Science for Inclusive Green Growth”
11 February 2019Opening statement on 57th Session of the Commission for Social Development
1 February 2019Closing remark on CSW63 Multi-Stakeholder Forum
1 February 2019Remarks on Sustainable Fashion Summit
31 January 2019Remarks on Report Launch Global Commission on the Future of Work
31 January 2019Remarks for the Joint Briefing with the President of the General Assembly
29 January 2019Remarks on High-level breakfast meeting for Permanent Representatives on SDG16+ and its preparation for the High-Level Political Forum in July and September 2019
23 January 2019Welcoming Remarks on Getting to Know the Ecosoc System in the SDG Era
23 January 2019Briefing Remarks on Getting to Know the Ecosoc System in the SDG Era
23 January 2019Closing Remarks on Getting to Know the Ecosoc System in the SDG Era
12 December 2018Opening remarks on an expert meeting for reviewing how to improve the HLPF
4 December 2018Opening Remarks on Global Education Meeting - Education in an Interconnected World: Ensuring Inclusive and Equitable Development
13 November 2018Closing Remarks on Pathways to resilience in climate-affected SIDS: A Forward-Looking Resilience Building Agenda Promises, results and next steps
13 November 2018Closing Remarks on Joint Meeting of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) on the Linkages between Climate Change and Challenges to Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace in the Sahel
13 November 2018Opening Remarks on Pathways to resilience in climate-affected SIDS: A Forward-Looking Resilience Building Agenda Promises, results and next steps
13 November 2018Opening Remarks on Joint Meeting of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) on the Linkages between Climate Change and Challenges to Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace in the Sahel
9 November 2018Statement at the Security Council’s Open Debate on Multilateralism and Strengthening the Role of the United Nations
7 November 2018Remarks at the UNCTAD 2nd session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Financing for Development
6 November 2018Statement on 123rd Session of the International Narcotics Control Board
31 October 2018Statement on Renewing the Commitment to Multilateralism: A High-level Dialogue of the Presidents of the General Assembly, ECOSOC, the Security Council, and the Human Rights Council
26 October 2018Statement on Baku Forum On Sustainable Development
26 October 2018Statement on VI Baku International Humanitarian Forum
17 October 2018Statement on International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
17 October 2018Statement on Africa Dialogue Series 2018: A Stronger AU-UN Partnership for Peace, Security and Development in Africa
16 October 2018Statement on the Occasion of the World Food Day Celebration
10 October 2018Statement on Joint Meeting of the Economic and Social Council and the Second Committee of the General Assembly
26 September 2018Statement to the Annual Ministerial Meeting of Least Developed Countries
14 September 2018Briefing to the UN Human Rights Council on the UN High-level Political Forum for Sustainable Development and the 2030 Agenda
26 July 2018Inaugural Speech at ECOSOC President Handover Ceremony

 

Letters
24 July 2019Letter on Transmitting the Summary of the ECOSOC Segment on Operational Activities for Development
28 May 2019Invitation to 2022 ECOSOC Youth Forum (English / French / Spanish)