New York, April 20 (QNA) - The State of Qatar affirmed that the matter of partnership for development occupies an important place at the top of its priorities, in implementation of the goals of sustainable development.
This came in the statement of the State of Qatar delivered by HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, during the general discussion of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Forum on Financing for Development Follow-up 2023.
Her Excellency referred to the ongoing efforts of the State of Qatar to provide aid and implement development projects that benefit millions of people around the world, and pointed out that the contributions made by the State of Qatar in 2021 for development projects and humanitarian aid exceeded USD 551 million.
Her Excellency expressed happiness at the vital cooperation and remarkable strategic partnership between the State of Qatar and the United Nations bodies, which culminated in the opening of the United Nations House in Doha in March.
HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations said that the State of Qatar was honored to host the 5th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries last March, where HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani announced, during the opening of the conference, a financial contribution of a total of USD 60 million, of which 10 million will be earmarked to support the implementation of the activities of the Doha Work Program for the Least Developed Countries, and million will be earmarked to support the intended outcomes of the Doha Work Program and build resilience in the least developed countries.
The State of Qatar is an investor and founder of the UNDP Accelerator Lab Network, with the total support provided reaching USD 30 million, Her Excellency added.
As for encouraging investment in developing countries, Her Excellency stated that the State of Qatar has signed more than 50 bilateral agreements to encourage investments until the end of 2020, pointing that the State of Qatar attaches high importance to strengthening the means of implementing and revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development by providing financial resources to developing countries through remittances for expatriate workers, which amounted to 7.92 percent of the GDP of the State of Qatar for 2018.
Referring to the importance of results-oriented partnerships, Her Excellency referred to the State of Qatar's support for the Lives and Livelihoods Fund, which was established by the Qatar Fund for Development along with the Islamic Development Bank and other donors, pointing that Qatar has contributed USD 50 million to this fund, which supports millions of people to get out of poverty.
"We look forward to holding the Sustainable Development Goals Summit next September, and we see it as a unique and important milestone in our collective efforts to realize the sustainable development goals," Her Excellency said. (QNA)