The Ministry of Economy will lead the U.A.E. delegation to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Public Symposium that will be held at the Palais de Nation in Geneva, Switzerland, from 17 – 19 June.
The U.A.E. delegation will include representatives from the Dubai Economic Council, Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development, Department of Economic Development in Abu Dhabi, and the Department of Economic Development in Dubai.
UNCTAD was established in 1964 as a permanent intergovernmental body and serves as the principal organ of the United Nations General Assembly for dealing with trade, investment, and development issues. The organization’s key goals include the maximisation of trade, investment and development opportunities in developing countries and integrating them into the global economy on an equitable basis. Towards this end, UNCTAD formulates policies relating to all aspects of development including trade, aid, transport, finance and technology.
Ayesha Alkobaisi, Director of International Trade Organisations at the Ministry of Economy, said, “The symposium gathers government officials as well as academics and private sector businesses from 194 countries. The attendees will participate in an open and interactive discussion pertaining to international issues that impact development. The event presents a unique opportunity for the exchange of opinions, expertise and best practices.” She added, “The U.A.E. has always taken keen interest in economic and social growth that forms the bases of sustainable development. This philosophy is clearly articulated in Vision 2021. With the directions of our wise leadership, we have come a long way in achieving a competitive, diversified and sustainable economy.” The symposium coincides with the 50th anniversary of the founding of UNCTAD. The plenary session will discuss challenges facing sustainable development, which is the one of main goals of the conference. Discussion topics will cover ways to increase cooperation and integration among countries within the global ecosystem.
More specifically, the UNCTAD symposium will examine challenges hindering development process and the ways to address these challenges. It also aims to contribute to the UN General Assembly discussions on the post-2015 development agenda with a series of plenary sessions and break-out sessions that will bring together government officials, civil society and other stakeholders.
Source : WAM News Agency for United Arab Emirates
