Qatari Emir to open UNCTAD XIII Saturday

HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani will open tomorrow the thirteenth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XIII), which will be held for the first time in the Middle East, with a number of Heads of State and ministers concerned with trade and development from UNCTAD's 194 member states taking part. HE the Undersecretary of Business and Commerce Sultan bin Rashid Al Khater said in an interview with Qatari News Agency (QNA) that the State of Qatar's hosting of the UNCTAD, which runs until next Thursday, will provide a real opportunity to show the capabilities of the state in a more comprehensive way in drawing up economic and political agenda at regional and international levels. HE Al Khater expected Qatar to succeed by laying steps towards the achievement of UNCTAD's goals during its presidency by virtue of the power of the political leadership in the State of Qatar, represented by the wise directives of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and the concentration of Qatar on the enhancement of its regional and international role through strengthening its ties with various countries in the economic field and by seeking to transform the economic strength it enjoys iinto a driving tool to support the objectives of UNCTAD. The State of Qatar's will take over the presidency of UNCTAD four years to succeed the Republic of Ghana, Chairperson of the twelfth session. UNCTAD XIII will be chaired by HE the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari who has an extensive experience in the management of such conferences by virtue of his work for many years in the United Nations and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in addition to his work as an ambassador of the State of Qatar to several countries. HE the Undersecretary of Business and Commerce said UNCTAD, which includes developed and developing countries, aims to shape the course of trade and investment policies for development and which will affect the UNCTAD Plan of Action for the next four years during the presidency of the State of Qatar, referring in this respect to the success of Qatar in hosting many conferences of developing countries . He stated that the main goals of Qatar during its presidency of the Conference is to develop policies that serve the common issues in the field of trade and development for developing countries, pointing out that Qatar will work during its presidency in accordance with the policy of "convergence" or the rapprochement of views between states and the resolution of issues and difficulties that impede the development process, stressing that this vision will contribute to the success of Qatar in joining the international community by developing a global plan to enhance the global growth drive. In response to a question on achieving UNCTAD's goals of achieving development in the coming years under the presidency of Qatar HE Sultan bin Rashid Al Khater expressed the hope that Qatar would play a positive role e during its presidency of UNCTAD and become an example to be followed by the states which will take over after Qatar, noting that the aspirations of the State of Qatar during its presidency of the conference is to provide opportunities for developing countries to benefit from the goals of UNCTAD in promoting development in those countries and work to achieve the best and perfect for them.