Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Rania Al-Mashat, inaugurated the fifth edition of the Arab Sustainable Development Week. Held at the League of Arab States headquarters in Cairo, the event, was themed “Sustainable Solutions for the Future: Embracing Resilience, Adaptability, and Progress in the Ever-Evolving Arab World,”
The event brought together Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League; Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports; Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development; and representatives from the UN, the World Bank, and other key organizations.
During the event, Al-Mashat’s opening remarks underscored the enduring partnership with the Arab League and international development organizations. She shed light on the geopolitical, economic, and financial challenges plaguing the Arab region. She also highlighted the humanitarian crises in Gaza and Lebanon, which exacerbate existing obstacles to sustainable development.
The 2024 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) report presents alarming statistics, revealing that only 17 percent of SDG targets are on track to be achieved by 2030. Al-Mashat called for a restructuring of the global financial system to facilitate access to concessional financing for developing countries. She also highlighted the importance of robust public-private partnerships to mobilize resources and meet the growing financial demands of development efforts, particularly in Arab nations.
Addressing climate challenges, Al-Mashat pointed to the severe environmental impacts on the Arab region. These factors adversely affect key sectors like agriculture, water resources, and energy. Furthermore, she emphasized the necessity of closing the digital divide, noting that limited broadband access hinders the adoption of advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence.
Egypt remains steadfast in its commitment to achieving the SDGs, as evidenced by initiatives like Egypt Vision 2030, and the presidential Decent Life (Hayah Karima) initiative. Al-Mashat also highlighted Egypt’s active engagement on the global stage, including the submission of three voluntary national reviews (VNRs) on SDG progress and the launch of the National Integrated Financing Strategy for Development. This strategy aligns public and private financing with SDG priorities to accelerate progress.
Al-Mashat concluded by emphasizing the importance of international knowledge exchange and collaboration to address shared challenges and promote inclusive, sustainable growth in the Arab region and beyond.
