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LDC5: Delegates Hail DPoA as Clear Path to Push up Development in LDCs

Doha, March 06 (QNA) – A number of heads of state, heads of government and ministers hailed on Monday the Doha Program of Action (DPoA) for the Least Developed Countries (2022-2031) as a clear path to advance development in LDCs and a road map to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals in LDCs.

During the plenary sessions of the second day of the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) in Doha, they stressed their support for the DPoA which was adopted in March 2022, as a document that guarantees basic foundations for development in LDCs, and enables them to build their ability to move at a steady pace towards development, despite the challenges they face to achieve their ambitious development goals.

The DPoA is based on the main objectives of building resilience to future shocks, eradicating extreme poverty, strengthening labor markets by encouraging the transition from informal to formal employment, enabling countries to graduate from LDCs, and facilitating access to sustainable and innovative finance, addressing inequalities, within and among countries. It also harnesses the power of science, technology and innovation, mainstreaming technology-based entrepreneurship, bringing about structural transformation and the SDGs through a revitalized global partnership for development based on enhanced and ambitious means of implementation, and diverse forms of support for LDCs in building the broadest possible coalition of multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Representatives of the countries participating in the conference said that the DPoA needs the support of developed countries, which must play a greater role in supporting the LDCs, abide by their previous pledges to support development in these countries, and work more to invest in the most urgent areas, such as health, education, social protection, technology, and other fields that would achieve development in the LDCs.

In this context, HE President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari said the DPoA provides a clear way to support the LDCs through its six pillars, especially in terms of combating poverty, confronting the repercussions of climate change, and enhancing the participation of these countries in international trade.

Addressing the conference, His Excellency said that sustainable development cannot be achieved in the LDCs, which suffer from poverty, highlighting the priority of combating poverty in those countries through financing programs from international institutions, and canceling and restructuring debts.

His Excellency called on the developed countries to further support the LDCs by helping them financially and encouraging investment in them, to ensure sustainable development that benefits the people of those countries, especially in terms of economy, health, education and social life.

HE Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif said that the DPoA will provide an opportunity to draw a clear vision and strategy for sustainable development for the LDCs, especially amid the great challenges facing these countries to achieve development, including the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change.

The successive and multiple crises in the world, such as the lack of food and financing, climate change, and geopolitical tensions, greatly affected the LDCs, and even inflicted the greatest losses on them, including the decline in their gross domestic product, and the shrinking of the volume of its international trade, which led to increasing poverty and food insecurity, His Excellency said.

The focus now would be on the implementation of the DPoA, His Excellency said, calling for the LDC5 to be an important step towards collective commitment not to leave the LDCs alone.

HE Deputy of the Presidential Leadership Council of the Republic of Yemen, Othman Majali said that the DPoA constitutes an important achievement and a qualitative vision in the context of achieving the broader goal of sustainable development.

The LDC5 contributes to meeting the needs of the LDCs, and supports development paths for the coming years while building on what was previously achieved, His Excellency said, highlighting that supporting stability in countries suffering conflicts is a priority, as there is no development without peace and stability. He added that international support and aid from international institutions are very important in the framework of advancing the economies of the LDCs.

HE Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bhutan Lotay Tshering said that the Doha Programme of Action for the next decade, is bond to lead to changes that promote peace and prosperity in the LDCs.

He pointed out that the challenges that the world has faced in recent years have caused delay in the exit of many countries from the LDCs category, which necessitates lending a helping hand to these countries which would support prosperity of the whole world.

HE Vice-President of Iran for Executive Affairs Mohsen Mansouri said that justice and equal opportunities alone can support the LDCs.

The huge challenges require greater cooperation between countries, he said, adding that LDCs cannot take steps towards development on their own, but the international community must lend a helping hand to them.

LDC5 is an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of the multilateral system, and to underline the need for economic justice for all countries, including the LDCs, he stressed.

He emphasized the importance of the developed countries fulfilling their commitments towards the LDCs, especially in the areas of modern technology, trade and investment, adding that the UN, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund must provide the required assistance to the LDCs.

He pointed out that to utilize the enormous human and natural resources that the LDCs possess, stressing the importance of “not to politicize” the aid and support provided to them.

HE Minister of International Cooperation in Egypt Rania Al Mashat said that the past successive crises have affected health systems and food security in developing as well as least developed countries, which necessitates the integration and cooperation of the international community; determination on facing economic, social and environmental challenges; and upholding the value of solidarity and regional and international partnerships for a better future, while developing sustainable solutions to the crises and disasters that have swept developing and least developed countries.

She stressed the importance of multilateral cooperation in changing the international landscape, achieving sustainable, comprehensive and just economic and social peace for developing countries, as well as LDCs.

Those LDCs suffer from high rates of poverty, hunger, unemployment, and lack of basic services, such as health, education, and employment, which underlines the importance of reconsidering national policies and legislation, and the tools used in their implementation, in addition to capitalizing on innovation as well as integrated and sustainable solutions, she explained.

The Egyptian minister said that Africa, with 71 percent of the LDCs, faces many development challenges related to food and nutrition security, especially in light of the current geopolitical crisis in Eastern Europe, and the inability of many countries to achieve self-sufficiency in basic commodities and balance in supply chains.

For his part, HE Sultanate of Oman Minister of Economy Dr. Said bin Mohammad Al Saqri said that his country believes in the importance of partnership and cooperation in achieving the requirements of sustainable development. Oman’s participation in this conference comes out of respect and commitment to international agreements and covenants, he said pointing that the LDC5 is an opportunity to work on exchanging expertise and experiences in order to find solutions to common problems, and an opportunity to work with partners to enhance global efforts to provide the best means and tools for the LDCs to eradicate poverty, enhance improve their role in international trade, and utilize their resources for sustainable development.

LDC5 is currently convening amid volatile international conditions, and a state of uncertainty and fragility in the world, following the political, economic and health crises from which all countries, including developed ones, have suffered, he added.

He pointed out that many of the LDCs suffer from conflicts, poverty, violence, and other challenges, and are unable to address their problems and achieve sustainable development goals by relying only on their own resources, particularly if they suffer from accumulated debts and high financial pressures, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated this situation and inflicted worse economic effects.

He emphasized the importance redoubling the efforts to assist the LDCs in addressing the roots of their crises and to help them in combating poverty and advancing their societies.

He reiterated that the Sultanate of Oman encourages developed countries and international institutions to finance the plans of development, rehabilitation and reconstruction in the LDCs, provided that these initiatives include debt restructuring.

He also pointed to the importance of the Doha Programme of Action, pointing out that the Sultanate of Oman stresses that establishing peace in the world is of utmost importance for people and their prosperity, as peace and development are interrelated and inseparable.

He added that countries participating in the conference should seek to intensify efforts and enhance cooperation to support peace efforts, especially in the LDCs, which supports the process of sustainable development.

HE Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in the republic of Honduras Eduardo Enrique Reina said that the current reality in the world is not fair, especially with multiple crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change and geopolitical tensions.

He added that poverty is the biggest obstacle to development and the achievement of the UN development goals. stressing the importance of reformulating national economic systems of the LDCs, with the help of developed countries and international institutions, especially in terms of canceling or reducing their debts.

Honduras’ Foreign Minister criticized the global financial system and major financial institutions for burdening the LDCs with debts that cause most of the problems for those countries.

Source: Qatar News Agency

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