Al-Mashat inaugurates 5th Arab Sustainable Development Week in Cairo

Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, Rania Al-Mashat, inaugurated the fifth edition of the Arab Sustainable Development Week under the theme “Sustainable Solutions for the Future: embracing resilience, adaptability, and progress in the ever-evolving Arab world” at the League of Arab States headquarters in Cairo.  

The event witnessed the participation of prominent figures, including Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League; Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports; Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development; and representatives from the UN, the World Bank, and other international and regional organizations.  

During her opening remarks, Al-Mashat emphasized that the event has become a key regional platform fostering collaboration among governments, private sector leaders, civil society, and academia to advance sustainable development across the Arab world. 

She noted Egypt's commitment to supporting the success of this initiative through an enduring partnership with the Arab League and international development organizations.  

She highlighted the pressing geopolitical, economic, and financial challenges facing the Arab region, such as the humanitarian crises in Gaza and Lebanon, which exacerbate existing obstacles to sustainable development. 

Al-Mashat pointed to alarming statistics from the 2024 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) report, which revealed that only 17 percent of SDG targets are on track to be achieved by 2030.  

The minister called for restructuring the global financial system to facilitate access to concessional financing for developing countries. 

She also stressed the importance of strong public-private partnerships to mobilize resources and meet the growing financial demands of development efforts, particularly in Arab nations.  

Addressing climate challenges, Al-Mashat noted the severe environmental impacts on the Arab region, including extreme weather events, drought, and rising temperatures, which affect key sectors like agriculture, water resources, and energy. 

She further emphasized the need to close the digital divide, as limited broadband access in the region hinders the adoption of advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence, that are vital for sustainable growth.  

Al-Mashat reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to achieving the SDGs through initiatives like Egypt Vision 2030, the national economic reform program, and the presidential Decent Life (Hayah Karima) initiative, which aims to transform rural areas into sustainable communities.  

She also highlighted Egypt’s active engagement on the global stage, including the submission of three voluntary national reviews (VNRs) on SDG progress and the launch of the National Integrated Financing Strategy for Development, which aligns public and private financing with SDG priorities to accelerate progress.  

The minister concluded by underlining the importance of international knowledge exchange and collaboration to address shared challenges and promote inclusive, sustainable growth in the Arab region and beyond.