Culture key component to human development: Sheikha Al Mayassa

Chairperson of Qatar Museums, Doha Film Institute and Reach Out to Asia HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani stressed that culture is a main component of human development. This came in a statement by HE Sheikha Al Mayassa at a round table discussion in the UN General Assembly on culture and sustainable development. The round table discussion took place at the headquarters of the UN in New York. HE Sheikha Al Mayassa reviewed the steps taken by Qatar to develop its national museum, pointing to the contribution culture can make to development by providing innovative solutions. She said that focus during the project was on protecting Qatari culture, and communicating with the Qatari people in all fields.  She also discussed the efforts made to preserve the oral history and heritage of the people of Qatar, which included holding 500 on-camera interviews that documented the experiences of many Qatari generations. HE Sheikha Al Mayassa stressed the importance of the initiatives made by the National Museum of Qatar in protecting the knowledge and wisdom of the people of Qatar, and the contribution it will make to development. She also discussed the role the museum can play in inspiring Qatar’s foreign visitors, who can see how Qataris are connected to both the desert and the sea and stressed that the museum also highlights Qatar’s commitment to sustainable development as a main goal, as well as improving the lives of Qatari people and all people living in the country. In concluding her statement, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa pointed to the challenges facing sustainable development due to population sizes, stressing at the same time the importance of enhancing human development by investing in education. She said that the advantage of the development of the cultural field in Qatar was its ability to create a number of jobs on a regional level, and lamented the bad luck as the current political environment is acting as an obstacle in that regard, adding that it also obstructs efforts to combat poverty. HE Sheikha Al Mayassa also stressed on the important role played by culture in supporting forgiveness and dialogue.