The Emir of Qatar opens the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries

The Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, opened today, Sunday morning, the fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, which is being held under the slogan “From Potential to Prosperity”, and will continue until the ninth of March.

6,000 heads of state and government, ministers, diplomats, businessmen, decision-makers, and representatives of regional and international organizations, institutions and companies will participate in the conference.

In his opening speech, Sheikh Tamim said that there is a shared global responsibility in facing the challenges of food security, climate change and the energy crisis, stressing the moral responsibility incumbent on the rich and developed countries to contribute to helping the less developed countries.

The Emir of the State of Qatar stressed that the food security crisis cannot be resolved through emergency humanitarian aid and temporary remedies only, and he also stressed that the food security crisis cannot be resolved in light of wars.

Sheikh Tamim announced that Qatar will provide a financial contribution of $60 million, of which $10 million will be allocated to support the implementation of the activities of the “Doha Work Program” for the benefit of the least developed countries, and $50 million to support the desired results of the “Doha Work Program” and build resilience in the least developed countries.

The proposals of the “Doha Work Program” provide for the establishment of a system that helps countries facing a hunger crisis in light of drought and high prices. The plan also calls for efforts to help least developed countries attract external financing and reduce interest rates to mitigate the repercussions of their debts.

In turn, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the least developed countries need massive investments in industry, calling on partners to achieve the Doha Program and its goals.

In his speech at the opening of the conference, Guterres called on the developed countries to support the least developed countries to confront the effects of climate change, saying, “The time has come to end the false promises and make the least developed countries at the center of our concerns.”

The conference on 46 countries classified as among the least developed in the world is usually held every 10 years, but it has been postponed twice since 2021 due to the Corona pandemic.