RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is set to send a delegation consisting of top ministers, government officials, and business leaders to attend the UN High-level Political Forum in New York. The forum will gather representatives from more than 100 countries to assess the progress made towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Scheduled to take place from July 10 to 19, the forum will prioritize discussions on accelerating the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and fully implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which aims to eradicate poverty in all its forms.
The event aims to explore effective and inclusive recovery measures to address the impacts of the pandemic on the SDGs. It also seeks to provide actionable policy guidance for the comprehensive implementation of the 2030 agenda and the SDGs at all levels, as stated on the forum’s official website.
Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim will be leading the Saudi delegation, accompanied by representatives from 22 government entities, private sector companies, and nonprofit organizations.
Saudi Arabia to Present VNR Report During UN Summit
Saudi Arabia will present its second Voluntary National Review (VNR) report during the forum, which serves as a mechanism established by the UN for countries to voluntarily report on their progress in implementing the SDGs. The VNR enables nations to share their experiences, including successes, challenges, and lessons learned, to expedite the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
In addition to Minister Alibrahim, the Saudi delegation will include Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadley, and Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb.
Saudi entities such as the Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabian Oil Co., Saudi Basic Industries Corp., and NEOM will participate in panel discussions and exhibitions at the event. Since 2018, Saudi Arabia has actively engaged in the forum, sharing its experiences and achievements in sustainable development, including its efforts to achieve a net-zero target by 2060.
Promoting sustainability aligns with the goals outlined in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which seeks to increase the country’s domestic generation capacity from renewable energy to 50 percent by the end of the decade.
