The State of Qatar has underlined the importance of intensifying efforts and activating partnerships to advance global economies, especially in developing and least developed countries, in the shadow of the current challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic, which placed great burdens on international trade that constitutes a pivotal element to stimulate economic growth.

This came in the statement of the State of Qatar delivered by Amna Al Muftah, member of the delegation of the State of Qatar participating in the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, before the Economic and Financial Committee (Second Committee) of the General Assembly on the item “Macroeconomic Policies Related Issues” and the item “Follow-up and implementation of the outcomes of international conferences on financing for development”.

The statement explained that Qatar is aware of the importance of accelerating the pace of collective action to confront the climate crisis, which is one of the most pressing challenges, HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani has announced the State of Qatar’s contribution of USD100 million to support small island developing states and the least developed countries to deal with climate change.

The statement said in light of the current exceptional circumstances and the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially on the least developed countries, the State of Qatar aspires for the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, which will be hosted by Doha on January 23-27, 2022, to become a landmark event through which aspirations of these states would be achieved, expressing hope that the Doha plan of action will be an important starting point and pillar for responding to the challenges and supporting the efforts of the least developed countries towards a more sustainable and inclusive development path, achieving recovery and enhancing resilience.

The statement noted that the State of Qatar continues its pioneering role in providing initiatives and contributions that alleviate the burdens of crises, and in providing development and relief assistance to many countries of the world.

It added that the State of Qatar has supported the efforts of many countries as well as local and international organizations to mitigate the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying contributions exceeding USD140 million have been made, and the State of Qatar has signed a basic contribution agreement with the World Health Organization worth USD10 million, to support the organization’s work program and the initiative to accelerate the availability of tools to combat the coronavirus in the countries most in need.

The statement indicated that the State of Qatar was the first to allocate a multi-year contribution totaling USD20 million to support the UNDP Accelerator Labs, which provides innovative measures and solutions to the current challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs