ISLAMABAD: The 48th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Regional Course concluded here on the other day after an overwhelming participation of young diplomats from Asia and Pacific countries.
A certificate awarding ceremony of flagship Regional Course by the UNCTAD was held at the Foreign Service Academy where Director General Mazhar Javed gave the certificates to participants from eleven countries namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, Iran, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Vanuatu, and also Pakistan as the host country.
The training course was organized by UNCTAD in collaboration with the Foreign Service Academy (FSA) whereas the latter is one of the five venues, worldwide for the UNCTAD multi-year training programme.
Speaking at the ceremony, Director General FSA Ambassador Dr Mazhar Javed stressed the need for the developing country diplomats to enhance their understanding of the global trade and development issues from their perspective. It was crucially important for the promotion of their national interests, he added.
Ambassador Javed underscored that without understanding the global and development agenda it was not possible for young diplomats of developing countries to work for the betterment of their states.
He also noted that there was a great need for understanding the dynamics of developing countries so that their agendas could be presented properly on multilateral and global forums.
However, he added that it was very important to develop the partnership between Foreign Service Academy and UNCTAD.
Addressing the participants, Economic Affairs Officer, Progamme Coordinator at UNCTAD Randa A. Jamal said after evaluation of the two-week long course it was learnt that the participants had achieved almost all there learning objectives which they aspired to acquire during the course.
She emphasised that after the post-pandemic recovery period, qualitative measures were necessary in ensuring human development and sustainability as economic development could not be done at the cost of environmental degradation.
Ms Jamal said the participants were going to take back new knowledge and skills and would contribute for the benefit of their countries and its economies.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Additional Foreign Secretary (UN &EC) Haider Shah said the programme has successfully concluded with the purpose to impart new skills and knowledge on development and economic affairs-related issues.
Remarks on Behalf of UN Resident Coordinator by RCO, Head of Office UN Pakistan Shah Nasir Khan extended his felicitations to the course participants and congratulated them on behalf of UN Resident Coordinator and other UN agencies.
He said policy formulation for economic resilience was crucial whereas this course had
enabled to enhancement the capacity of public departments of different countries. “It’s a unique programme participated by 11 countries and the first course after the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Maryam, a participant from Maldives while expressing her views on the training thanked UNCTAD team for providing the opportunity to learn more about challenges of trade and development in her region. She added that the lectures were very informative and beneficial for the betterment of the participants’ countries.
