The High-Level Ministerial Conference on Middle-Income Countries began work on Tuesday in Rabat, with the participation of 32 countries and 23 United Nations development agencies and other international and regional institutions.
Under the theme “Addressing the development challenges of middle-income countries in a changing world,” this ministerial segment will examine the challenges and opportunities facing middle-income countries. It will also provide a further opportunity to deepen the debate on how the United Nations development system, regional and international institutions and other development partners can assist these countries in meeting the challenges of economic and social development.
Chaired by Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Morocco, the meeting will be attended by senior representatives of UN regional economic commissions, including the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), Mr. Rola Dashti, the Deputy Executive Secretary of UNECA, Ms. Hanan Morsy, and the Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD, Mr. Pedro Manuel Moreno.
The High-Level Ministerial Conference is part of Morocco’s presidency of the Group of Friends of Middle-Income Countries at the United Nations, which it will assume in 2023, and its ongoing commitment to the interests of developing countries.
Initiated by the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the United Nations Development Programme, the conference kicked off its work on Monday with a meeting of experts focusing on key issues for middle-income countries, such as South-South and triangular cooperation, climate financing, innovative sources of finance and the middle-income trap.
The conference, which aims to identify new and innovative approaches to reinvigorate cooperation for the benefit of middle-income countries, will be attended by UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed and ECOSOC President Paula Narváez Ojeda.
HA/lb/as/APA