Secretary-General Applauds First Knowledge Conference Aimed at Driving Sustainable Development throughout Arab Region

Following is UN Secretary‑General Ban Ki‑moon’s message, as delivered by Sima Sami Bahous, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Assistant Administrator, Regional Bureau for Arab States-UNDP Director, to the first Knowledge Conference, held in Dubai, 7–9 December:

I am pleased to send greetings to all participants at this Knowledge Conference.  I thank the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum, for this initiative to advance the transfer of knowledge in the Arab region.  I hope this first such conference will be followed by many more.

I applaud the United Arab Emirates for its achievements in this field, particularly its success in education, innovation and information and communications technology.  The United Arab Emirates is also serving as a leader in promoting knowledge across the Arab States region and the world, in particular through its collaboration on the Arab Knowledge Report.

The Arab region boasts a proud history, offering its inhabitants a powerful common experience that can serve as the basis for greater progress.  People across the Arab region yearn for justice, dignity and full respect for human rights.  Leaders must respond to the legitimate demands of their people.  Young people are especially eager to claim their rights — and especially deserving of opportunities, particularly for productive employment.

To fully harness the region’s potential, it will be essential to ensure gender equality and empower women.  Armed with knowledge, women can influence their families, their societies and future generations.

The United Nations fully supports global efforts to build a knowledge-based society that benefits all people and drives sustainable development.  All regions and countries can gain from enhancing knowledge, an asset that does not depend heavily on material resources and generates greater impact the more it spreads.

Progress towards a more sustainable, secure future requires investment in education, science and technology.  I hope that your Conference will explore ways to set the stage for leveraging the value of knowledge to promote development in the United Arab Emirates, across the region and around the world.

When individuals are more knowledgeable, they can contribute more to the collective progress of all humanity.  In this spirit, I wish you great success.