Qatar Affirms UNIDO's Pivotal Role in Facing Global Crises, Achieving Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development

Vienna, November 22 (QNA) - The State of Qatar has expressed its appreciation to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) for its efforts in helping member states face global crises, achieving inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) for all, and adopting innovative industrial technologies and solutions to save energy and reduce the environmental impact of industrialization. This came in the statement of the State of Qatar delivered by HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Federal Republic of Austria, and the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations and international organizations Sultan bin Salmeen Al Mansouri, before the 50th session of UNIDO Industrial Development Board, currently held in Vienna. His Excellency said that the State of Qatar affirms the pivotal role of UNIDO within the United Nations, as a platform for high-level discussions, providing analysis and policy advice services, and disseminating statistics and other knowledge products that promote comprehensive and sustainable industrial development for all. HE also highlighted the State of Qatar's efforts to develop its national industries and make use of the latest expertise and technologies in the field of inclusive industrial development with its environmental dimensions, including UNIDO's experiences and knowledge products. HE Ambassador Al Mansouri said that the State of Qatar has built a modern and sustainable infrastructure, modern highways and bridges and modern airports and ports, and has established a metro network, noting that all of this facilitated entry procedures for goods and products and the movement of passengers, and secured sustainable transport and resilience in the face of environmental challenges. He continued to say that the advanced infrastructure contributed to the increase of the country's industrial investments in 2022 to record about $85 billion, and the number of industrial establishments increased to 835, compared to 814 at the beginning of the year. An economic and financial package worth $25 billion has also been allocated to support the private sector and small and mid-size enterprise (SME) to overcome the economic repercussions of Covid-19 pandemic, he added. With regard to investing in projects of transition into a green world, the statement said that HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani inaugurated last month Al Kharsaah Solar Power Plant, which covers 10 square kilometers and includes more than 1,800,000 solar panels, with a total capacity of 800 megawatts (MW). The plant provides 10% of the country's peak electricity demand, it added. HE also said that the State of Qatar has announced a project to establish two mega-solar power plants to begin electricity production by end of 2024. His Excellency revealed that the State of Qatar is conducting long-term research to address environmental priorities in the energy sector, starting with reducing methane gas and working with strategic partners to develop and integrate carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies in all operations. As part of its long-term strategy aimed at advancing economic diversification and digital transformation in the country, the statement referred to the State of Qatar's hosting the second edition of the Smart City Expo Doha 2022, which dedicated to discussing the best smart solutions and applications to build a better future based on sustainability. At the regional and international level, the statement said that the State of Qatar contributes generously to providing development assistance to countries, especially the least developed countries, which face significant deficiencies in infrastructure, especially in transport, energy, water, sanitation, and information and communication technology. The statement underlined that Doha is preparing to host the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed (LDC5), at the level of heads of state and government, from March 5 to 9, 2023, calling on all concerned countries and international organizations, especially UNIDO, to strengthen their support for the least developed countries in facing structural challenges and support their policies to eradicate poverty and achieve development goals. Al Mansouri noted the remittances by workers in the State of Qatar are considered as one of the sources of financing development in the labor-sending countries, most of which are from the countries of the south, pointing out that the value of workers' remittances is expected to reach more than $18 billion this year. These remittances lead to improving the structure of income distribution and raising the levels of consumption, health and education in the countries of the south, HE added. (QNA)