DOHA: The 14th session of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) began in Nairobi last night.
H E Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari, Cultural Adviser at the Emiri Diwan, Qatar’s candidate for Unesco director-general and President of 13th UNCTAD, handed over the presidency of the 14th session Kenyan Minister of Foreign Affairs Amina Mohamed.
Kenya holds the presidency of the new session of UNCTAD that will last four years.
Dr. Al Kawari called for building a new culture beyond divisions in the world, and a culture of cooperation instead of confrontation to foster a new culture of multilateral economic relations. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, representatives of governments and members of UNCTAD and prominent players from the business world, civil society and academia attended to tackle global trade and economic development issues.
Al Kawari highlighted the success of the 13th session under Qatar’s presidency, thanks to support of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. He said since his election as president of the conference, he sought to make the organisation more powerful to integrate developing countries into the global economy and enhance the culture of multilateral economic relations, confirmed during the 13th session in Doha.
The week-long quadrennial conference features ministerial debates, high-level roundtables, thematic events, a World Investment Forum and a Civil Society Forum, among other events.
The conference represents opportunity to consider the most appropriate means of delivering on the post-2015 development agenda and will decide on UNCTAD’s work programme for the next four years.
Al Kawari expressed confidence that the 14th session will be an opportunity to bring about a new approach to accelerate development mechanism and move forward towards prosperity for all. He stressed the need to adhere to constructive dialogue and work on a global scale in a spirit of genuine cooperation, noting that many challenges can be addressed through consultation and collective action.
He said there are necessary steps to achieve the development objectives of Doha that require political decisions at the highest level. UNCTAD has vision, experience and mandate to integrate all elements of trade and development.
He said Nairobi represents a new start of UNCTAD to become an entity of ideas and work together with the help of intergovernmental bodies.
He said initiatives that combine the intellectual potential of UNCTAD with the ability to negotiate such as ‘Geneva Dialogue’ is most important in the coming years and stressed Qatar’s support. Dr. Al Kawari also spoke about his nomination for top Unesco post and his programme for the organisation.
Amina thanked Qatar for efforts in making the 13th session of UNCTAD successful and praised Dr Al Kawari’s efforts during his presidency. She underlined Kenya’s support to Dr Al Kawari in recognition of Qatar’s support to Unesco.
Dr Al Kawari also met Ban on the sideline of the conference.
Ban entrusted Dr. Al Kawari with his greetings to the Emir and extended thanks to Qatar for its presidency of UNCTAD 13 during the past four years.
Dr. Al Kawari briefed Ban on his nomination and his vision for the advancement of the Unesco. Ban wished him success.
Dr. Al Kawari also met Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta and conveyed greetings of the Emir and wishes of further progress and prosperity for the Kenyan people, and congratulations to Kenya on taking over the presidency of UNCTAD.
Kenyatta entrusted Dr. Al Kawari with his greetings to the Emir, wishing him best of health and happiness and the people of Qatar further progress and prosperity. He also expressed pleasure with the level of the relations between the two countries, and thanked Qatar for its presidency of UNCTAD and role in the international organisations and the United Nations.
He affirmed Kenya’s support for Dr. Al Kawari. Qatari Ambassador to Kenya Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al Abdullah was present.
The Peninsula
