UNCTAD president calls for facing challenges in developing countries

HE the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari who is also President of the 13th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XIII) has underlined the need to address challenges facing the developing countries in the light of efforts made by Group 77 to realize a better and more prosperous future for world peoples. In a speech before a ministerial meeting of Group 77 and China, held this morning on the sidelines of UNCTAD XIII, which was later inaugurated in Doha, Dr. Al-Kuwari said the State of Qatar has succeeded in achieving many of the accomplishments at all levels during the past period, "but we feel the magnitude of the challenge before us all as developing countries. " He added that the State of Qatar in 2005 hosted the second summit of Group 77 and China, which was attended by Heads of State and Government who expressed their visions on a better developmental future. He said in this context that despite the lapse of seven years on this hosting, the world continues to suffer from many challenges as poverty is rampant and inequality spread in many parts of the world although developing countries continue their efforts and endeavors to make its voice heard and taken into consideration in the international process for economic decision-making. Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari underlined the importance of strengthening cohesion between the public and private sectors, at a time when the public sector should adopt the knowledge values economy more broadly through the continuing distribution of knowledge horizons and the building of true partnerships to continue to address the challenges posed by the reality . He referred to the importance of Doha hosting of such events, especially in the contemporary world in which human endeavors witness rapid changes and shifts in many areas, stressing the need to communicate in a world that became a world of knowledge and ideas. Qatar is seeking to become part of a knowledge-led globalization and a key partner in a knowledge-based future economy, in addition to seeking to diversify its income sources, Dr. Al-Kuwari said. He noted that Qatar is a country of education that provides knowledge to the people and to everyone who wants to pick its fruit, praising the progress witnessed in this sector.