Qatar participated in a panel discussion titled "On the Road to the SDG Summit: Enhancing Partnerships with the Private Sector," held at the UN headquarters in New York.
In a speech during the session, HE Qatar's Permanent Representative to the UN Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani said Qatar believes in the centrality of the private sector in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as the private sector is an important engine for innovation and economic growth, adding that this was distinctively reflected in Qatar's hosting of the Fifth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries and the Private Sector Forum, with the participation of 300 representatives of the business sector to discuss ways to enhance the role of the private sector in implementing the Doha Work Programme, and contributed to issuing commitments including financial investment, economic growth, job creation, and innovative solutions to support least developed countries.
Her Excellency referred to the fruitful partnership between Qatar and the private sector for implementing the Qatar National Vision 2030, which is a blueprint for social and economic development, such as the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), which showed its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its various initiatives and the establishment of a team dedicated to focusing on sustainable investment according to the UN principles for responsible investment.
She stated that QIA established the 'Qatar investment fund for climate change' to invest in projects and companies that are in line with the climate agenda and SDGs, including renewable energy projects, energy-efficient buildings, and sustainable transportation, adding that the fund entered into a partnership with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Global Green Growth Institute to support the implementation of climate-friendly initiatives and to promote sustainable development, and have funded education and access to healthcare in developing countries.
HE Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani noted that Qatar established the Qatar Development Bank to promote entrepreneurship and innovation by identifying investment opportunities and partnerships that increase investments compatible with the SDGs, such as Green Financing, which provides financing for small and medium-sized enterprises, which work to develop environmentally sustainable projects.
In the context of encouraging investment in developing countries, she stated that Qatar signed more than 50 bilateral agreements to encourage investment, adding the Qatar is also focusing on strengthening means of implementation and revitalising the global partnership for sustainable development by providing financial resources to developing countries through transfers of expatriate labour, which amounted to 7.92 % of Qatar's GDP in 2018.
In her speech, HE Qatar's Permanent Representative to the UN Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani highlighted Qatar's contribution of $50mn to the Lives and Livelihoods Fund, established by the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) in partnership with the Islamic Development Bank and other donors to provide financial support to private sector companies that invest in sustainable development initiatives in developing countries.
Regarding the SDG Summit, which will take place in September, she affirmed that the private sector would have a major role in the success and implementation of the SDGs.
Earlier on Thursday, Qatar affirmed that the matter of partnership for development occupies an important place and at the top of its priorities, in implementation of the goals of sustainable development.
This came in the statement of Qatar delivered by HE Permanent Representative of Qatar to the UN 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.
She referred to the ongoing efforts 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 Qatar in 2021 for development projects and humanitarian aid exceeded $551mn.
Her Excellency expressed happiness at the vital co-operation and remarkable strategic partnership between Qatar and the UN bodies, which culminated in the opening of the UN House in Doha in March.
HE Permanent Representative of Qatar to the UN said Qatar was honoured to host the 5th UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries last March, where His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani announced, during the opening of the conference, a financial contribution of a total of $60mn, of which $10mn will be earmarked to support the implementation of the activities of the Doha Work Programme for the Least Developed Countries, and a million earmarked to support the intended outcomes of the Doha Work Programme and to build resilience in the least developed countries.
Qatar is an investor and founder of the UNDP Accelerator Lab Network, with the total support provided reaching $30mn, she added.
