Marrakesh, Morocco— The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) attaches great importance to finding solutions to economic problems such as the eradication of poverty and enhancing food security, according to the GCC Secretary General Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi.
He made the remarks in connection with the participation of the council member states in the annual meetings of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the great interest they attach to participating with the international community to find solutions to many economic problems.
This came during Albudaiwi’s participation today in the annual meetings of the World Bank and the IMF in the city of Marrakesh, Kingdom of Morocco.
The secretary-general stated that the GCC countries constantly strive to engage in meetings and conferences aimed at addressing economic crises such as poverty and food security and their effects, adding that the council member states are also keen to provide support and introduce initiatives and solutions that would reduce the repercussions of these crises and problems in the world.
He emphasised the collective responsibility to confront and eliminate poverty by supporting developing and impoverished nations, a commitment he said the GCC member states consistently uphold.
The secretary-general stressed the need for creating a unified global guide that keeps pace with and confronts the new interconnected global challenges caused by natural variables such as climate change and the crises that the world is witnessing due to conflicts and wars.
Activating this guide would help mitigate the impacts of these changes and enhance local, regional, and global employment opportunities. He also discussed the necessity of developing appropriate digital infrastructure, which will play a crucial role in addressing economic crises, including the issue of global poverty.
Regarding climate change and its effects, he stated that the GCC countries are determined to confront the impacts of climate change, which significantly affect global poverty rates.
This commitment is demonstrated through hosting conferences, events, and initiatives aimed at finding suitable solutions, he said, adding that Qatar is currently hosting Expo 2023 Doha, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is preparing to organize COP28 at the end of this month, and Saudi Arabia has introduced the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative.
Albudaiwi expressed his hopes that the discussions and deliberations during the annual meetings of the World Bank and the IMF would yield results and recommendations that effectively contribute to combating global poverty and reducing its impact.