Oman to present first review towards UN SDG at New York summit

Business Wednesday 17/July/2019 12:04 PM
By: Times News Service

Muscat: Oman will present before the United Nations its first Voluntary National Review, which will detail what the country has done in terms of achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The Sultanate has sent a delegation led by Ali Al Sunaidi, Oman’s Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council of Planning, and the nation’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, to the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, a meeting of the UN member states to find out what they are doing to move towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

“Our country will present its first Voluntary National Review, which will exhibit the steps and efforts undertaken by Oman in becoming one of the first countries in the region towards achieving the goals and recommendations of the SDG Agenda in the areas of health, education, child and maternal care services,” said Dr Mohammed Al Hassan, Oman’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

“We have also paid special attention to empowering women and to ensure that their rights are respected and promoted as they rightly deserve, in this golden era,” he added. “All these programmes and initiatives will be presented before the international community. The Oman delegation to the UN will conduct and participate in a number of events and programmes to shed light on our country’s efforts.”

The Sustainable Development Goals include 17 targets for nations to reach by 2030, under the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

These include ending poverty, eliminating hunger, good health and wellbeing, access to quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, preserving life, both on land and under water, the enforcement of peace, justice and strong institutions, and the creation of partnerships to ensure these goals are recognised.

“I would like to invite you to follow updates on an important event this week, that is taking place at the United Nations headquarters in New York, where UN member states are coming together for the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development,” said Ambassador Al Hassan. “The Sultanate will be represented by a high level delegation, headed by HE Dr Ali Al Sunaidy, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council of Planning.”

A statement from Oman’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations added: “The new permanent representative, Ambassador Dr Mohammed Al-Hassan welcomes the participation of the Sultanate in HLPF on Sustainable Development.”