Global co-operation ‘integral part’ of national plan, says official

Gulf Times
November 18, 2017

HE Dr Hassan al-Hammadi

 

Qatar’s efforts in the fields of international co-operation and foreign aid are an “integral part” of the country’s national plan, according to the Secretary-General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi, who underscored the importance of strengthening regional and international partnerships for development.

In his speech during the ‘High-Level Conference on Financing for Development and the Means of Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’, Dr al-Hammadi said the implementation of 2030 sustainable development plan “depends mainly on political will, resource mobilisation at the national and international levels, and the effective use of this potential”.

He noted that developing and least developed countries would be able to achieve sustainable development in the social, economic and environmental fields only through funding of their national plans in the areas of the 16 development goals and by activating the 17th goal.

He stressed the importance of reviewing commitments and emphasising them in the areas of activating the international partnership for development and the activation of the South-South Co-operation (SSC) and the Triangular Co-operation (TC).

Dr al-Hammadi urged participants of the conference “not to overlook the discussions” on the importance of fulfilling the commitments made by member-countries, especially developed countries, towards this plan, and monitor and evaluate the progress made in the implementation of international agreements.

He also stressed the need for each State to establish “necessary mechanisms” to achieve sustainable development internally and to consider the role of national plans to help other States “not to lag behind”.

The secretary-general said Qatar had integrated the 2030 sustainable development plan into the ‘Second National Development Strategy 2017-2022’, and that the State’s efforts in the area of international co-operation, including foreign aid, became an integral part of its national plan, in line with its responsibility and commitment to strengthen its regional and international partnerships.

Reiterating the opening speech of HE the Minister of Finance Ali Sherif al-Emadi during the conference yesterday, Dr al-Hammadi said Qatar had provided aid to friendly countries among 13 sectors across various international humanitarian initiatives.

He said government subsidy represents 70% of Qatar’s foreign aid compared to non-government assistance, which “reflects the political will to meet Qatar’s external commitments in line with its role as an active and responsible member of the international community”.

Dr al-Hammadi also pointed out that the contributions of charities, humanitarian institutions, and donor countries amounted to 30% of the value of Qatar’s external support.

He added that Qatar had focused its foreign aid on the education sector, “which has been at the forefront of the sectors receiving aid from the total development assistance in pursuance of the fourth development goal”.