São Paulo – The 13th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad), to take place from April 21st to 26th, in Doha, Qatar, should be the ideal forum for presentation of “big ideas and bold vision” about some of the main questions in the global agenda, like the financial crisis, global changes, food insecurity and unequal development.
The statement was made on Monday (27) by the Minister of Culture, Arts and Tradition of Qatar, Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari, to the representatives of the member countries of the Unctad at the UN offices in Geneva, Switzerland. Kawari is the head of the conference National Preparatory Committee.
According to a press statement by the United Nations agency, Kawari stated that the meeting will be an opportunity for those participating to “truly demonstrate and exercise political will and leadership”. The theme of the 13th Unctad will be “Development-centred globalization: Towards inclusive and sustainable development paths”. The participation of heads of state, high-level employees, representatives of the civil society, businessmen and scholars of the 194 member countries is expected.
Negotiations for the final text of the conference are already in progress. According to the organisation, at the event itself, discussions should be focussed on the current situation of the global economy, the challenges that this scenery imposes on development and identification of political solutions for the crisis. The Unctad work programme for the next four years will be established.
Kawari called for country representatives in Geneva to “seize the opportunity” and “make history” in negotiation of the final agreement for the conference.
He also pointed out that during the 13th Unctad there will be a high-level event about the role of women in development, apart from the third edition of the World Investment Forum.
*Translated by Mark Ament
