A number of heads of state, government and ministers participating in the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, which is currently being held in Doha, stressed that the Doha Action Program for the Least Developed Countries / 2022-2031 /, which was adopted in March of last year, constitutes a clear path to advance development in These countries, and it can serve as a road map for the least developed countries to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
During the plenary sessions of the second day of the conference, the representatives of the countries stressed their support for the Doha Action Program / 2022-2031 / as a document that guarantees basic foundations for development in the least developed countries, and enables them to build their ability to move at a steady pace towards development, despite the challenges they may face. Those countries are on track to achieve ambitious development goals. The Doha Work Program / 2022-2031 / is based on the main objectives of building resilience to future shocks, eradicating extreme poverty, strengthening labor markets by encouraging the transition from informal to formal employment, and enabling countries to exit from a lower category. developed countries, facilitating access to sustainable and innovative finance, addressing inequalities, within and among countries, harnessing the power of science, technology and innovation, mainstreaming technology-based entrepreneurship, bringing about structural transformation and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, through a revitalized global partnership for development on the basis of enhanced and ambitious means of implementation, and diverse forms of support for LDCs in building the broadest possible coalition of multi-stakeholder partnerships. Representatives of the countries participating in the conference said that the Doha work program must also enjoy the support of developed countries, which must play a greater role in supporting the least developed countries, abide by the pledges they made earlier to support development in these countries, and work more to invest in The most urgent areas, such as: health, education, social protection, technology, and other fields that would achieve development in the least developed countries. In this context, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari of the Federal Republic of Nigeria said: The Doha Work Program provides a clear way to support the least developed countries through its six pillars, especially in terms of combating poverty, confronting the repercussions of climate change, and enhancing the participation of these countries in international trade. His Excellency added in his speech during the conference that sustainable development cannot be achieved in the least developed countries, which suffer from poverty. Therefore, the priority that must be focused on is combating poverty in those countries through financing programs from international institutions, debt cancellation and restructuring. He called on the developed countries to support the least developed countries more by helping them financially and encouraging investment in them, in order to ensure sustainable development that benefits the people of those countries, especially in terms of economy, health, education and social life. For his part, His Excellency Mr. Shahbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, said: The Doha Action Program /2022-2031/ will provide an opportunity to draw a clear vision and strategy for sustainable development for the least developed countries, especially in light of the great challenges facing these countries to achieve development, including challenges The repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change. He added that the successive and multiple crises in the world, such as: lack of food and financing, climate change, and geopolitical tensions, have greatly affected the least developed countries, and even inflicted the greatest losses on them, including the decline in the growth of the gross domestic product, and the shrinking of the volume of its international trade, which led to Rising poverty and food insecurity. He stressed that the focus now would be on the implementation of the Doha Work Program and therefore there should be a collective commitment not to leave the LDCs alone, and therefore the current conference should be an opportunity to take an important step in that direction. In turn, HE Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council of the Republic of Yemen, Othman Majali, considered that the Doha Action Program constitutes an important achievement and a qualitative vision in the context of achieving the broader goal of sustainable development. He said: The Fifth United Nations Conference in Doha would contribute to meeting the needs of the least developed countries, and support development paths for the coming years, while building on what was previously achieved. He pointed out that supporting stability in countries experiencing conflicts is a priority, as there is no development without peace and stability, and international support and aid from international institutions is very important in the framework of advancing the economies of the least developed countries. For his part, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bhutan, Dr. Lutay Tshering, said: The Doha Work Program for the next decade would lead to changes that enhance peace and prosperity in the least developed countries. He pointed out that the many challenges that the world has witnessed in recent years have contributed to the delay in the exit of many countries from the category of least developed countries, and therefore we must work intensively to help and support these countries, because this is beneficial to the prosperity of the whole world. For his part, HE Mohsen Mansouri, Assistant to the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran for Executive Affairs, said: Justice and equal opportunities alone can support the least developed countries. He added that the huge challenges currently require greater cooperation between countries, as the least developed countries cannot take steps towards development on their own, but the international community must lend a helping hand to them. He pointed out that the Fifth United Nations Conference in Doha is an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of the multilateral system, and to stress the need for economic justice for all countries, including the least developed countries. He stressed the importance of the developed countries fulfilling their commitments towards the least developed countries, and contributing to their support, especially in terms of modern technology, trade and investment, and the United Nations and its agencies, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund must provide the required assistance to the least developed countries. He pointed out that the least developed countries possess enormous human and natural capabilities and resources, and it is necessary to take advantage of them, but taking into account the lack of "politicization" Aid and support provided. For her part, Her Excellency Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation of the Arab Republic of Egypt, said: The successive crises whose negative effects we are experiencing on health systems and food security in developing and least developed countries show the urgent need for integration and cooperation as a family of the international community, and as a single force, and the insistence on facing economic and social challenges. And environmental, and building on the value of regional and international solidarity and partnerships for a better future, while developing sustainable solutions to crises and disasters faced by developing and least developed countries. And she stressed the importance of multilateral cooperation in changing the international scene, and achieving comprehensive and just economic and social peace for developing countries, the least developed in a sustainable manner, which suffer from high rates of poverty, hunger, unemployment, and basic services, such as: health, education, and employment, which calls for the importance of reconsidering In national policies and legislation, the tools used to implement them, building on innovation, and integrated and more sustainable solutions. She pointed out that the African continent, which includes 71 percent of the least developed countries, faces many development challenges related to food and nutrition security, especially in light of the current geopolitical crisis in Eastern Europe, and the inability of many countries to achieve self-sufficiency in basic commodities and a balance in food and beverages. Supply chains and supplies. In turn, HE Saeed bin Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Saqri, Minister of Economy of the Sultanate of Oman, said: His country believes in the importance of partnership and cooperation to achieve the requirements of sustainable development, and its participation in this conference comes out of respect and commitment to international agreements and covenants, especially since the conference represents an opportunity to work to exchange expertise and experiences. In order to find solutions to common problems, and an opportunity to work with partners to strengthen global efforts to provide the best means and tools for the least developed countries to eradicate poverty, enhance their role in international trade, and employ their resources for sustainable development. He added that the United Nations conference is currently being held in Doha in light of volatile international conditions, and a state of uncertainty and fragility in the world, following the political, economic and health crises from which all countries, including developed countries, have suffered, and have made efforts to overcome this stage and reach a new stage. economic recovery. He pointed out that the least developed countries, some of which suffer from conflicts, poverty, acts of violence, and other challenges, are unable to address their problems and achieve the sustainable development goals by relying only on their own resources, especially if they suffer from accumulated debts and high financial pressures, especially since the pandemic. /Covid-19/ exacerbated this situation and left previous economic effects. He stressed the importance of all countries of the world redoubling their efforts to assist the least developed countries in order to eliminate various conflicts and acts of violence, and to help them achieve a quantum leap in combating poverty and advancing their societies. He stressed that the Sultanate of Oman encourages developed countries and international institutions to finance development plans, rehabilitation and reconstruction in the least developed countries, provided that these initiatives include debt repayment and debt restructuring. He also stressed the importance of the Doha Work Program and the implementation of its determinants, pointing out that the Sultanate of Oman affirms that establishing peace in the world is of utmost importance for people and their prosperity, as peace and development are linked and inseparable from each other, and the countries in the conference must seek to intensify efforts and enhance cooperation to support Peace efforts, especially in the least developed countries, which support the process of sustainable development. For his part, Honduras Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Eduardo Enrique Perena said: The reality in the world today is not fair, especially with multiple crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and geopolitical tensions. He added that poverty is the biggest obstacle to development and achieving the development goals of the United Nations, and therefore the national economic systems in the least developed countries must be reformulated, with the help of developed countries and international institutions for those countries, especially in terms of canceling or alleviating their debts. Honduras’ foreign minister criticized the global financial system that burdened the least developed countries with debts that cause most of the problems for those countries and were imposed by major financial institutions.
