The Shura Council State of Qatar

HE Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim underscored the importance of the State of Qatar's role in supporting the least developed countries (LDCs), stressing that Qatar is an active strategic partner in the international community, as it was keen to host important United Nations conferences that are concerned with supporting poor countries.

In his speech at the opening session of the Parliamentary Forum on LDCs, held on the sidelines of the 5th UN Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC5), which kicks off Sunday in Doha, HE Shura Council Speaker explained that this support comes from the affirmation of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in all economic forums, on the necessity of not leaving poor countries to face the issue of extreme poverty on their own.

HE Speaker of the Shura Council pointed out that the State of Qatar signed an agreement with the UN in October 2022 to host the conference as part of Qatar's efforts to support the development issues of developing countries and LDCs.

In his speech, His Excellency referred to the adoption of the Doha Program of Action for LDCs for 2022-2031, under the title "Human Rights related Challenges and Opportunities," during the first part of the conference that Qatar held at the UN headquarters in New York in March 2022.

His Excellency noted that this would help these countries to face the COVID-19 pandemic challenges, economic crises, and climate change.

In his speech, HE Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim noted Qatar's keenness to support various countries and humanitarian and development organizations, adding that Qatar is one of the largest donors and supporters of LDCs, with more than USD 700 million of humanitarian and development assistance provided Qatar via the Qatar Fund for Development in 2022.

He explained that this assistance contributed to implementing UN projects and programs to support LDCs.

Before the forum, His Excellency reviewed the State of Qatar's efforts and contributions in supporting fraternally and friendly countries, providing healthcare, education, and relief projects, and supporting development efforts and climate change projects, in addition to its great efforts in supporting countries to mitigate the COVID-19 effects, as Qatar's aid, via QFFD, exceeded USD 140 million. 

HE Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim stated that the State of Qatar's efforts and contributions to supporting and developing poor and needy communities and LDCs and empowering people and building their capacities comes from its commitment to supporting development and relief programs and achieving a sustainable impact through aid in various parts of the world.

Regarding the Parliamentary Forum on LDCs, His Excellency affirmed that it aims to support the contributions of parliamentarians around the world to the UN-led efforts to assist LDCs to emerge from this classification.

His Excellency praised the role of parliaments members of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and their effective contributions to the meetings concerned with the revisions of the ten-year plans, as institutions of good governance, and their ability to secure the inclusion of many of their views in the essential objective papers of government meetings for the benefit of LDCs, which is an affirmation of the parliaments' role as a partner in supporting LDCs and its responsibility in monitoring the commitment of governments towards those countries.

HE Speaker of the Shura Council looked forward to the forum to present visions that would help LDCs to diversify their economies, improve their productivity, increase investments in infrastructure, and raise their ability to face the risks of climate change by strengthening parliamentary oversight of government performance, the extent of commitment to rational governance, mobilizing international partnerships, and providing the necessary development assistance, to assist LDCs to overcome the poverty problem, build and strengthen the capacities of their people, and develop social, economic and environmental development in them.

His Excellency pointed out that the LDC5, which comes in sensitive international and regional circumstances, would represent a platform for developing effective measures for LDCs that would enable those countries to overcome the economic, social, and environmental challenges they face and benefit from their enormous energies and human and natural resources.

His Excellency explained that the Doha Program of Action would contribute to charting a path that responds to the various challenges of the next decade and enhances the ability of LDCs to address future challenges.

His Excellency added that parliamentarians, whether individuals or organizations, have a great responsibility in implementing the Doha Program of Action by enacting legislation, approving budgets, and performing the oversight role to ensure the implementation of commitments. Concluding his speech, HE Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim expressed his thanks and appreciation for accepting the invitation and participating in this forum, welcoming the parliamentarians in the State of Qatar, wishing them success in coming up with recommendations that would help the stakeholders participating in LDC5 to issue recommendations and action plans to ensure that all LDCs would emerge from this provisional development classification.