A/RES/74/232 Follow-up to the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries aimed at fostering debt financing, debt relief, debt restructuring and sound debt management, as appropriate, for the multilateral and bilateral debt owed by the least developed countries to creditors, both public and private, reiterates its commitment to working through existing initiatives, such as the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative and the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative, and reaffirms the importance of transparency in debt management; 20. Notes that foreign direct investment flows to the least developed countries increased by 15 per cent in 2018 compared with 2017, after two consecutive years of decline, by 17 per cent in 2017 and 13 per cent in 2016, and continued to concentrate on extractive and related industries, and underlines the need to take the measures necessary at all levels to further accelerate foreign direct investment in the least developed countries; 21. Encourages the least developed countries, in accordance with their national plans and priorities and with the full support of their development partners, to develop their capacities to track financial transactions, administer taxation and regulate customs and to redouble their efforts to substantially reduce illicit financial flows by 2030, with a view to eventually eliminating them, including by combating tax evasion and corruption through strengthened national regulation, and also encourages the United Nations and other relevant international bodies to help to support these efforts, in accordance with their respective mand ates; 22. Recalls target 17.5 of the Sustainable Development Goals, in which the General Assembly decided to adopt and implement investment promotion regimes for the least developed countries, and underlines the need for its early implementation, invites the Secretary-General, in his capacity as the Chair of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, to retain the issue of investment promotion regimes for the least developed countries on the agenda of the Board, with a view to enhancing the overall effectiveness of the support provided by the United Nations system to increase the flow of foreign direct investment to the least developed countries and the ability of those countries to attract such investment, and in that context recalls the initiative of the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, jointly with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the International Labour Organization, the Enhanced Integrated Framework and the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies, to set up a capacity development programme for the investment promotion agencies of the least developed countries, and calls for financial support to operationalize this programme; 23. Notes the importance of the work of the Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries in improving the scientific research and innovation base of such countries, promoting networking among researchers and research institutions, helping such countries to access and utilize critical technologies, and drawing together bilateral initiatives and support by multilateral institutions and the private sector, and implementing projects contributing to the use of science, technology and innovation for economic development in the least developed countries, takes note with appreciation of the contributions that Bangladesh, Guinea, India, Norway and Turkey have made, as well as the pledges made by the Sudan, and invites Member States, as well as international organizations, foundations and the private sector, to provide voluntary financial contributions and technical assistance to the Technology Bank to ensure its effective operation; 24. Expresses its deep concern that the least developed countries are facing unprecedented challenges owing to rapidly escalating climate risks and significant capacity constraints and are disproportionately affected by the adverse impacts of 6/11 19-22505