RIYADH: The GCC and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) have signed a deal to increase cooperation in the field of human development and resilience to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a global vision to put people and the planet on a sustainable path by 2030.
“Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Abdullatif Al-Zayani and UNDP administrator Helen Clark on Monday signed an MoU at the UNDP headquarters in New York,” a GCC official said here on Tuesday.
“The MoU is a step forward in the ongoing collaboration with UNDP,” said Al-Zayani after signing the MoU. “The GCC is committed to supporting resilience and achievement of the SDGs in the GCC countries.”
Commenting on the MoU Clark said, “UNDP and GCC are committed toward the achievement of the SDGs across the Arab states.”
“This significant partnership with the GCC will allow UNDP to offer stronger support to Arab countries striving toward these important objectives,” she said.
By signing the MoU, the two sides are now committed to sharing expertise and knowledge for human development and resilience across the region facing crisis in some countries; the cooperation includes joint action in training, capacity building and staff exchange as well as organization of conferences, seminars and workshops in order to achieve the goals.
The MoU assumes greater significance as it comes in line with the world leaders adopting the SDGs on Sept. 25 during the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly and it will form the bedrock of a new development agenda that can set the world on a course of action to end poverty, transform lives and protect the planet.
GCC-UNDP in deal to boost ties over human development
GCC-UNDP in deal to boost ties over human development
Saudi Cabinet reviews cooperation and agreements with other nations
- Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chairs meeting and briefs ministers on his recent meeting with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
- Cooperative efforts includes projects focusing on development and education, political consultations, environmental protection, health, investment and air transport
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers reviewed a number of domestic and international matters during a session in Jeddah on Tuesday chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The crown prince briefed the Cabinet on his recent meeting with the Egyptian president, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, which included discussions about regional security and stability, the latest developments in the Middle East, and other topics of importance to the Arab and Islamic world, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
He also shared with ministers the contents of a letter he received from the president of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The council discussed progress in cooperative efforts involving Saudi Arabia and other countries including Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Estonia, Cuba and Kiribati, and approved a number of memorandums of understanding.
The cooperation includes projects focusing on development and education, political consultations, environmental protection, health, investment and air-transport services, the press agency said. Ministers also approved an agreement between the Saudi General Authority for Awqaf and its Omani counterpart relating to endowments.
They reviewed national initiatives, including one for the promotion of charitable work, and the enhancement of humanitarian and developmental efforts across the country.
A merger of the National Competitiveness Center with the Saudi Center for Economic Business to create a combined Saudi Competitiveness and Business Center was authorized.
