Countries of South Vital to Global Economic Success, Achieving 2030 Agenda, Secretary-General Tells Development Expo

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message to the Global South Development Expo, in Dubai today:

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates; Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates; Excellencies; ladies and gentlemen;

A Salam Aleykum.

I am pleased to convey my greetings to the Global South-South Development Expo.

I thank the Government of the United Arab Emirates for hosting this important gathering, with the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation.

Countries of the South are vital to global economic success and to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

I welcome your decision to highlight the central role of South-South and triangular cooperation, focusing on green technology transfer, industrial innovation, and global health and food security.

These cross-cutting challenges are at the heart of the SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals].

I urge you to seize this opportunity to engage, build bridges and develop sustainable strategies together.

I wish you a productive and rewarding Expo.

Shukran Zajilan.