Doha, March 05 (QNA) – Several heads of state participating in the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) affirmed that the Doha Programme of Action (DPoA) will contribute to reducing poverty rates, facing many challenges, and achieving the aspired goals for achieving sustainable development, growth and prosperity in the least developed countries (LDCs), stressing the need to enhance productivity, support investment and provide educational grants for students in LDCs to achieve social justice and protect the right to education.

This came during the “High-level Thematic Round Table 1: Investing in people in the least developed countries to leave no one behind,” which was held on the sidelines of the conference, in the presence of several heads of state and dignitaries.

HE President of the Republic of Malawi Lazarus Chakwera, who presided over the first part of the event, stressed the need to invest in people to achieve a brilliant future, pointing out that the DPoA highlighted the importance of leaving no one behind in the LDCs.

For his part, HE President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda, who chaired the second part of the event, said that the DPoA is a global tool that focuses on the UN core values, expressing hope that the DPoA will contribute to strengthening national and global action, which is in the interest of more than a billion people from the LDCs.

His Excellency explained that the discussions today came to support the aspirations of more than a billion people living in the LDCs, pointing out that human development is one of the UN system’s main pillars.

He noted that the round table will provide an opportunity for the various dimensions of human development to be addressed as a basis for DPoA, referring to the most important files that will be discussed during the round table, including the role of youth today with their huge potential to shape their future.

Duda highlighted that education’s great role in shaping the future of societies and achieving the best education in schools will be considered by providing the infrastructure, qualified teachers and educational curricula that lead to investment in society, expressing hope that enriching discussions will assist in achieving the desired goals and aspirations.

Former President of Finland Tarja Kaarina Halonen said that the COVID-19 pandemic showed the importance of leaving no one behind after it showed the extent of the lack of social justice, which stresses the need to move forward toward sustainable development in light of the serious challenges that are being faced.

She explained that strengthening social protection is of great importance through community investment, expecting that the DPoA will have a tangible impact on the LDCs through the efforts of all groups, pointing to the need to facilitate the transition from the formal and informal economy.

Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Achim Steiner noted that the UNDP role is in line with the DPoA six areas, adding that about 50 percent of people in the LDCs do not have access to electricity, which necessitates the need to invest in green electricity to ensure that people are not left behind, which is in line with the DPoA.

UNDP Administrator said that 33 percent of the population of LDCs have access to the digital economy, explaining that the growth of opportunities and access to technology will achieve development to ensure that this group is not left behind.

Moreover, several participating experts reviewed the most important files and issues facing the LDCs, stressing the need to move forward toward sustainable development and work to support safety nets and enhance investment to get rid of poverty.

The participants appreciated the efforts of the State of Qatar and the LDC5, noting that the DPoA will leave a tangible impact on achieving sustainable development.

At the conclusion of “High-level Thematic Round Table 1: Investing in people in the least developed countries to leave no one behind,” an interactive discussion was held between the UN and other relevant stakeholders, to provide the closing remarks of the participating heads of state.

During the interactive discussion, HE President of the Federal Republic of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud underscored that LDC5 aids in achieving development goals that seek to improve human life in light of the great challenges. He pointed out that there are many ideas that will help LDCs to face the circumstances and challenges.

He noted that Somalia is committed to building a better future and seeks to work with partners in the field of development, adding that investment in LDCs is a key factor for achieving growth and prosperity.

In the interactive discussion, Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania Dr. Philip Isdor Mpango said that the United Republic of Tanzania provided free education for all, developed school infrastructure, and completed its review of the curricula making them more realistic. (QNA)

Source: Qatar News Agency