Rania Al-Mashat, Egypt’s Minister of International Cooperation, said that in the early days of the pandemic, the world did not realize how extensively its repercussions would include all economic and social aspects of the countries of the world.
Al-Mashat was speaking at the first Egypt International Cooperation Forum (ICF) 2021, organized by the Ministry of International Cooperation under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, today.
With less than a decade remaining until 2030, the international community seeks to achieve the UN development goals, but the goals that have been achieved since 2015, must be evaluated, she said.
She emphasized that the relevant parties must make exceptional efforts to overcome the pandemic, be more determined to achieve development and confront climate changes in order to reach a green and sustainable recovery.
The pandemic has shown that no country can face it alone, and this confirms the importance of multilateral international cooperation, she said.
She said that the forum highlights the importance of activating regional cooperation and discusses strengthening international financing and achieving sustainable development goals, in addition to how to stimulate the role of the private sector to effectively contribute to activating development efforts.
"All these parties would not have met today except for their certainty that the world, no matter how different its components, have one destiny and a common goal. That is to overcome the pandemic and move forward towards development and green recovery,” she said.
The forum - which combines physical and virtual attendance - involves five dialogue sessions on the role of multilateral partnerships in post-Covid-19 reconstruction efforts, strengthening international financing mechanisms to comply with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
It also encourages private sector participation in development through international cooperation.
