MINSK, 5 April (BelTA) – The first meeting of the Group of Friends of investing in the SDGs is scheduled to take place in H2 2019. The corresponding agreement was reached at a meeting between Belarus' Permanent Representative to Geneva Yury Ambrazevich and UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi on 4 April, BelTA learned from Belarus' Permanent Representative Office to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva.
Yuri Ambrazevich emphasized intensified cooperation between Belarus and UNCTAD in 2018 and the ongoing year. He welcomed the joint work in the areas of investment, e-commerce, competition policy and accounting standards and reporting. In addition, the permanent representative expressed interest in promoting Belarus' initiative to set up on the basis of UNCTAD the Group of Friends of investing in the SDGs to unite the efforts of the international community in Geneva and international business for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Mukhisa Kituyi, in turn, thanked Belarus for active cooperation with UNCTAD, including the promotion of the regional agenda during the recent E-Commerce Week and the UNCTAD World Investment Forum, which took place in October 2018. The secretary-general suggested holding the first meeting of the Group of Friends of investing in the SDGs in the second half of 2019 and also confirmed UNCTAD's readiness to further assist middle-income countries.
The UN member states passed the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015. The Agenda includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which are a commitment to eradicate poverty, inequality and injustice, prevent climate change. The Agenda 2030 is a comprehensive strategy to improve the quality of life of people, ensure development and consumption without detriment to future generations. All 17 goals are adapted for Belarus as well.
