Date: November 24, 2024
Cairo
The fifth edition of the Arab Sustainable Development Week was launched under the patronage of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt. The event, titled “Sustainable Solutions for a Better Future: Resilience and Adaptability in an Evolving Arab World,” was held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, in cooperation with partners from the United Nations, the European Union, the World Bank, the Al Baraka Forum for Islamic Economics, and the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation.
The opening session was attended by several prominent figures, including His Excellency Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States; Her Excellency Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation; His Excellency Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, Minister of Youth and Sports; His Excellency Adnan Fangari, Minister of Justice; Stéphane Gimbert, Regional Director for Egypt, Yemen, Djibouti, and the Middle East and North Africa at the World Bank Group; Elena Panova, United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Arab Republic of Egypt; His Excellency Ambassador Mohamed Khair Abdel Qader, Secretary-General of the Arab Federation for Digital Economy; Youssef Khalawi, Secretary-General of the Al-Baraka Forum for Islamic Economics; and a number of ministers, ambassadors, and representatives from the United Nations and the World Bank.
For his part, His Excellency Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, emphasized that holding the Sustainable Development Week 2024 provides an opportunity to work together to chart a roadmap for finding flexible, practical solutions that will accelerate the pace of implementation to achieve sustainable development in our Arab region and significantly impact the improvement of the living conditions of Arab citizens and the quality of life in our Arab countries.
Meanwhile, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, Her Excellency Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, stated that the Arab Sustainable Development Week has become a prominent regional platform for constructive dialogue between representatives of governments, the private sector, civil society, women, youth, and media sectors, as well as universities, specialized research centers, and Arab, regional, and international organizations. These organizations all seek to enhance cooperation to achieve sustainable development, building on the tangible successes of previous editions.
She added that Egypt has been keen to host and organize the event over the years, in fruitful cooperation and an extended development partnership with the League of Arab States and a number of international development partners. She added that the Arab Sustainable Development Week is being held amid ongoing and accelerating economic, financial, and geopolitical changes and challenges, particularly the deplorable humanitarian conditions facing our brothers in Gaza and Lebanon.
She explained that Egypt is also working to continue implementing development initiatives and major national projects, while mobilizing the resources and funding required for these projects. Foremost among these projects is the presidential initiative “Decent Life,” which targets all rural villages in Egypt and aims to transform them into sustainable rural communities that meet all development needs. This will enhance the state’s efforts to localize the Sustainable Development Goals and achieve balanced regional development.
Meanwhile, Elena Panova, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Arab Republic of Egypt, praised the role of the League of Arab States in efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in the Arab region. She emphasized the urgent need to adopt transformative approaches to address the challenges we all face, pointing to the escalating climate crises, political instability, and economic gaps. She praised the partnership between the League of Arab States and the United Nations, which supports sustainable development efforts in Egypt and the Arab region.
His Excellency Ambassador Mohamed Khair Abdel Qader, Secretary-General of the Arab Federation for Digital Economy, participated with a working paper on artificial intelligence and robotics for sustainability under the Technology and Innovation theme. He explained the relationship between artificial intelligence and sustainable development goals and its potential to enhance the efficient use of natural resources, develop vital sectors such as health, education, agriculture, and sustainable urban development, improve services, enhance transparency, and strengthen social justice.
