A number of state leaders participating in the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries held in Doha stressed that the economic and social challenges faced by countries in the category of "least developed countries" It requires the concerted efforts of the international community to advance development in those countries and broad cooperation, in order for these countries to achieve the United Nations Development Goals 2030. Leaders of states and governments who spoke at the second plenary session of the conference emphasized that political factors, natural disasters, wars, conflicts, and the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic / It has hindered many of the efforts of many countries belonging to the category of least developed countries in achieving the desired growth that contributes to the promotion of economic and social development in them, which calls for international cooperation to help them overcome these crises, which were a major obstacle to growth. The speakers pointed out that despite the passage of 50 years since the establishment of the group of least developed countries, which includes about 46 countries, few countries were able to get out of this category and were able to achieve a growth rate that enabled them to thrive and develop. They also stressed that the factors that can help the least developed countries achieve tangible progress on the path to realizing the Doha Work Program 2022-2031, is the focus on education, health, innovation and technology and real political and economic reforms in those countries with the importance of increasing foreign investments in them, along with debt relief on them. In this context, His Excellency Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti, said that 50 years after the establishment of the Group of Least Developed Countries, it is clear and urgent that this work lead to tangible results after the adoption of 4 action plans, all of which contributed to the promotion of economic and social development. He added that the time has come to achieve tangible progress after all these years of work, especially since the number of countries was 25 when the group was established in 1971, while the number is now 46 countries in the category of least developed countries, including 33 African countries. He stressed that the goal of exiting the category of least developed countries has become more and more difficult unless full corrective measures are taken and real assistance is provided to those countries that contribute to achieving development in them, especially since the multiple crises in the world have greatly affected development efforts and economic advancement. His Excellency indicated that the Doha Work Program, which was adopted in January 2022, is in line with the implementation of the Action Decade for the new millennium towards achieving the necessary transformation that achieves sustainability, stressing that it is not only through aid that the least developed countries achieve success, but rather through investment, the provision of soft loans, and facing the challenges of climate change, refugees, drought and security. food. For his part, His Excellency Wavell Ramkaloan, President of the Republic of Seychelles, said that since the last conference of the least developed countries was held in Istanbul, the world has changed a lot and many political, economic and social changes have taken place, especially in developing countries. He pointed out that since the last conference, only three countries have graduated from the category of least developed countries, which raises questions about the challenges and obstacles that must be removed in order to expand the scope of countries that graduate from this category, as the Republic of Seychelles did in the past. He explained that his country’s participation in the conference comes to convey its experience in graduating from the category of least developed countries, as no country should lag behind in development and growth in the world. He pointed out that the factors that impede development in the least developed countries are similar despite the different capabilities from one country to another, which confirms that the challenges are the same and the solutions are the same, and therefore growth can be achieved if the principle of equal opportunities is achieved, as lack of consolation led to imbalanced development. His Excellency stressed that the phenomenon of climate change is a crisis that has greatly hindered the acceleration of growth in many countries and caused social and economic disasters, calling for concerted efforts to overcome the effects of this by extending a helping hand to the most affected countries and establishing real partnerships that contribute to advancing development in the least developed countries.
In turn, Her Excellency Mrs. Natasha Burke Musar, President of the Republic of Slovenia, expressed the support of the most developed countries for the least developed countries, especially in light of the multiple crises the world is facing, which in turn contributed to the slowdown in the desired progress in development. She stressed that no one is safe from all the crises afflicting the world, especially the least developed countries, which were greatly affected by the Corona pandemic, which was not just a health crisis, but rather a crisis that left difficult economic conditions and impeded development in several countries. She stressed that fighting poverty and strengthening the education sector, food security and health are all factors that help the least developed countries in developing their economies at a time when the gap between developed and least developed countries is widening. In this context, she called for solidarity and concerted efforts by all to help the least developed countries. At the same time, these countries must also take the initiative to develop and diversify their economy and push the wheel of economic and social development in them. For his part, His Excellency Faustin-Archange Touadera, President of the Central African Republic, said that the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries is taking place in difficult global conditions characterized by climate shocks, geopolitical tensions and unprecedented financial challenges, in addition to health challenges and challenges in the field of energy, as well as challenges humanity. In his speech, His Excellency focused on the difficult economic conditions his country has been suffering since its independence 60 years ago, despite its remarkable progress in fighting poverty, combating corruption, women’s empowerment, women’s and children’s health, youth advancement and development. He said that the ban imposed on his country, especially in the field of defense and diamonds, had contributed to impeding development in his country, and called on countries to help the Central African Republic to overcome the obstacles that prevent it from achieving sustainable development. In turn, His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, stressed the importance of unifying efforts for the advancement of the least developed countries and benefiting from the experiences of countries that have achieved economic developments, while stressing the importance of equal opportunities in the process of supporting countries that are still facing many challenges to get out of the least developed classification. . He said that the successive global crises have in turn contributed to the development efforts of already struggling countries, especially natural disasters and internal conflicts, and therefore everyone is now called upon to contribute to the realization of the Doha Work Program in accordance with the priorities set for it. For his part, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of the Republic of Sudan, spoke about his country’s experience in achieving the United Nations’ sustainable development goals, which in turn achieve sustainable growth for his country, by focusing the state budget on the education and health sectors. He said that his country has prepared a comprehensive social and economic vision for the years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, with the aim of setting a road map for achieving sustainable development despite the challenges facing his country, especially the issue of displaced persons and refugees, as well as the climate changes that affected Sudan. He added that the cooperation of the international community in these circumstances that the world is going through is undoubtedly important in achieving equal opportunities and creating a boost to development in the least developed countries, through real partnerships and innovative solutions. In turn, HE Dr. Mohamed Al-Munfi, Chairman of the Presidential Council of the State of Libya, said that his country has been and still is supporting the least developed countries in Africa despite all the challenges and crises that those countries have been exposed to, such as health problems, climate change issues, environmental change, natural disasters and wars, which calls for building Societies where peace and justice prevail. He stressed his country’s belief that the least developed countries are able to create a prosperous future thanks to the capabilities they possess, but many measures must be taken to benefit from them, indicating his support for the Doha Work Program, which calls for the establishment of development projects in the least developed countries that contribute to a rapid and lasting recovery in those countries. . He called for the establishment of a global emergency fund in order for the least developed countries to face the effects of disasters and wars and to ensure that medicine and food reach everyone, stressing the right of these countries to possess knowledge and modern technologies to bridge the scientific gap. He also talked about the consequences of illegal immigration and called on the countries of the North to provide assistance to countries of origin and countries of transit in order to encourage migrants to stay in their countries by implementing development projects for them and pumping investments in their countries. For his part, His Excellency Mohamed Ould Cheikh Mohamed Al-Ghazwani, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, said that the fifth edition of the United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries is being held in an exceptional and extremely important circumstance, where the political, health and economic challenges, in addition to the war in Ukraine, had a significant impact on the slowdown. growth in those countries. He added that the successive crises have hindered the efforts made by the least developed countries, and therefore it is important now to take serious steps to implement the Doha Work Program and before that the Istanbul Work Program, through the solidarity of all and the support of the international community and the more developed countries. It is scheduled to continue tomorrow / Monday / the conference’s plenary sessions, in which state officials present their visions and perceptions on the best ways to implement the Doha Work Program and bring about development developments in the least developed countries.
