On behalf of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat delivered the speech of Egypt at the fifth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) in Qatari capital, Doha, on 5 March. Specific initiatives and tangible results are expected to be announced at the conference that help address challenges of least developed countries. The speech emphasized pioneering role of Secretary-General of the United Nations in enhancing value and impact of development work at regional and international levels, his tireless endeavor towards consolidating principles of multilateral cooperation and solidarity, and placing the United Nations and its specialized agencies at the forefront in order to assist developing and least developed countries to grow. Al-Mashat disclosed that the African continent, which has 71% of the least developed countries in the world, faces many development challenges related to food security, especially in light of the geopolitical crisis facing Eastern Europe, and the inability of many countries to achieve self-sufficiency in basic commodities and achieve a balance in food supply and supply chains. She added that the Arab Republic of Egypt was keen to launch a national strategy for food and nutrition that aims at the forefront of its objectives to achieve a link between presidential initiatives and investment in public health in order to achieve food and nutrition security. Al-Mashat pointed out that in light of successive crises that the world is experiencing and their effects on health systems and food security in developing and least developed countries as well as the most needy people in the world, as well as the structural pressures and health, economic and social damages resulting from that. Accordingly, integration and cooperation by the international community as a single force is essential. Climate changes and natural disasters will remain very important for discussion in our international and regional forums because of the challenges and risks they pose to natural resources and the threat to human life. Consequently, exacerbation of these risks raises the alarm for adherence to international covenants and treaties to achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement in order to preserve the degree of global warming at less than 1.5 degrees. Here, comes the role of international donor institutions that give priority to developing and least developed countries to provide development assistance, the need to standardise patterns and policies of development work, and focus more deeply on promoting investments as well as stimulating the role of private sector in comprehensive and sustainable development and empowerment, she elaborated. The speech of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi concluded by highlighting the great importance of effective and effective multilateral development work, as it constitutes a lifeline for many developing and least developed countries in light of the multiplication of economic risks and challenges that the world is going through and affecting people's lives.
