UNCTAD and the Government of Qatar signed today in Geneva the Host Country Agreement for the Thirteenth United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD XIII. The document was signed by UNCTAD Secretary-General and the Qatari Minister of State for International Cooperation.

 

Thanking the Government of Qatar for supporting UNCTAD and hosting the event, UNCTAD Secretary-General, Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, said that the signing brings to fruition a process that started back in 2008 in Accra, Ghana. He reminded everyone that the conference will be the first major United Nations ministerial conference on trade and development since the economic crisis, and will as such provide an opportunity for reflection and drawing lessons.

H.E. Dr. Khalid Bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah, Minister of State for International Cooperation of Qatar, said that the Qatari Government would make every effort to contribute to the success of the conference. He commended UNCTAD on its important work, recognizing that the institution has been at the vanguard of the struggle and aspirations of developing countries for expanding trade, and for developing their capacities and potential.

Luis Manuel Piantini Munnigh, President of the Trade and Development Board of UNCTAD, conveyed the Member States´ gratitude to Qatar for deciding to host UNCTAD XIII. He said that the theme of the conference carries an important message - that development must be at the heart of the globalization process, and that it must be inclusive and sustainable.

UNCTAD XIII will take place in Doha, Qatar, in April 2012. The conference will be held at the state-of-the-art .