22 April 2012
Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly and the Inter-Parliamentary Union praised UNCTAD as a forum for leading the debate on development-centred globalization, with a history of helping member States cope with economic change.
Reflecting on UNCTAD’s work at a special session of UNCTAD XIII earlier today, Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser, President of the United Nations General Assembly, emphasised the unique link between the General Assembly and UNCTAD as its organ.
Retracing the organization’s history, he remarked that UNCTAD has been most useful when helping member States cope with economic change, and most successful when working through consensus.
The international community stands to gain from a strengthened UNCTAD, affirmed Mr. Adelwahad Radi, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
The Conference has always been receptive to parliamentarians, and the IPU supports it as a forum that leads the debate on development-focused globalization, he said.
UNCTAD XIII will be about development, jobs and sustainability, said Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, UNCTAD Secretary-General, in his address. Historically, financial investment has not necessarily led to more jobs, he cautioned. In addition, when liberalizing trade, countries have had to look after those that would be negatively affected by the opening of markets, he said.
The Conference has always been receptive to parliamentarians, and the IPU supports it as a forum that leads the debate on development-focused globalization, he said.
UNCTAD XIII will be about development, jobs and sustainability, said Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, UNCTAD Secretary-General, in his address. Historically, financial investment has not necessarily led to more jobs, he cautioned. In addition, when liberalizing trade, countries have had to look after those that would be negatively affected by the opening of markets, he said.
