21 May 2012
In an address at the UN General Assembly high-level thematic debate on the state of the global economy and finance held in New York on 17 - 18 May, Qatar's Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage, Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kawari, who was President of the UNCTAD XIII ministerial conference, stressed Qatar’s keenness to enhance the role of UNCTAD under its presidency over the next four years.
The Minister presented a report of the UNCTAD session, saying that the Conference had been convened to strike a balance in the ongoing economic crisis and related financial challenges confronting the world, and was aimed at finding different alternatives and options to make globalization development-friendly.
The Conference was an opportunity for many groupings, including civil society, to consult and provide input, he said, and featured special segments, including a high-level meeting on women in the context of development and a world investment forum.
The Minister reported that compromise on the outcome document had not been easy, but given the current global challenges, it was a major achievement, even a “quasi-miracle”. Qatar was happy that the Conference had resulted in a “good agreement”.
The Minister said that Qatar, under the leadership of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, will strive to achieve the goals of UNCTAD as a significant forum for exchanging views and expertise that aims to develop practical and sustainable solutions directly relevant to the lives of people.
