Qatar affirmed its support for the UN Industrial Development Organisation (Unido) to achieve its goals of comprehensive and sustainable industrial development for all, especially the developing countries.
This came in a statement delivered by Qatar's ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN and international organisations in Vienna Sultan bin Salmeen al-Mansouri, before the 51st session of the Unido Industrial Development Board (IDB), currently being held in Vienna.
Qatar reaffirmed the pivotal role of Unido within the UN system, especially its outstanding contributions to supporting the developing countries through capacity development, transfer of knowledge and technology, accelerating the development of innovations and new technologies to increase productivity, supporting the advancement of environmentally sustainable industries, and promoting a culture of total quality.
He noted that Qatar has made many development contributions in accordance with the formulas of bilateral, regional and multilateral co-operation, especially within the framework of the strategic partnerships with the UN and other leading international institutions, based on its National Vision 2030 which upholds the values and principles of co-operation, partnership and solidarity in helping countries, people and communities suffering from humanitarian crises, conflicts, poverty and debt.
The statement referred to the Fifth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) which was held in Doha in March 2023, and its role in accelerating sustainable development in 46 countries that are the poorest in the world and the most in need of international assistance, especially with regard to the pledge of countries and international bodies and institutions to financial commitments of more than $1.3bn in the form of grants, investments, loans, aid, development projects and technical support. With the aim of positively affecting the 1.2bn people living in the least developed countries, Qatar expressed its readiness to consult with the Unido to conclude a partnership to accelerate industrial development in the developing countries. It noted that remittances of workers in Qatar constitute one of the sources of financing development in labour-sending countries, most of which are from the countries of the South, and added that the value of workers' remittances this year is expected to reach more than $20bn, which contributes to improving the structure of income distribution and raising the levels of consumption, health and education in the countries of the South.
The statement stressed that Qatar has developed a national industrial and development vision that takes into account the dimensions of sustainable development, including the environmental dimension, and the need for modernisation through the acquisition of advanced technologies, and to create a balance between the current needs of the society and its needs in the future, as well as the establishment of a knowledge society.
Qatar pointed out that it relies in its long-term development vision on human, social, economic and environmental development. Thanks to this policy, the statement added, the Qatari economy today has become one of the strongest regional economies and among the most promising economies in the world. Qatar maintains balanced growth rates, and has worked to establish a diversified, competitive, and sustainable knowledge-based economy. Qatar looks forward to strengthening its co-operation with the Unido in the field of advising on Qatar's industrial policies.
