PM urges G7 to be gracious to poor on SDG issues

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged the developed countries including G7 nations to be more gracious in technology transfer, resource mobilization and capacity building of the poor countries to overcome the challenges of implementing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

"She (PM) called upon the developed nations to be more generous in transferring technology and extend their expanded assistance in resource mobilisaiton and capacity building in poorer countries," Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque told newsmen after the Bangladesh premier delivered her statement in the outreach meeting of the G7 Summit at Shima Kanko Hotel at Kashikjima Island here today. 

He said during the interaction with the leaders of major world economies on the sidelines of the G7 summit, Sheikh Hasina focused on Bangladesh's achievements and vision on various issues of SDGs pinpointing four areas relating to scoio-economic development. 

"The issues she pointed out are- quality infrastructure, health, women empowerment and climate change," Haque said. 

The Bangladesh premier urged the world leaders to give emphasis on women in policy and politics, rights and dignity of women in society as well health issues to achieve universal health coverage. 

Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad and Press Secretary Ehsanul Karim also were present at the briefing when they informed the reporters about different aspects of her activities today. Bangladesh ambassador in Tokyo Rabat Fatima was also present. 

This was the second time since 2001 Sheikh Hasina was invited to take part in the G7 outreach meeting visibly in view of a global recognition to her leadership image and ability to move forward the country at a very crucial time. 

According to the foreign secretary Sheikh Hasina pointed out her government's stride to provide quality health service at grassroots level across the country saying investment in health sector has a long term impact on development. 

"Bangladesh's community health centers can be a role model at rural level across the globe," she said. 

About the women empowerment the Prime Minister in the context of 2030 agenda she called for giving priority on women's participation and empowerment at national level, their financial emancipation and their rights and dignity in the society. 

Haque said the Prime Minister had a good interaction with world leaders including US president Barack Obam, German Chancellor Angela Markel, UN Secretary General and IFM head after the meeting. 

Highlighting the significance of Bangladesh's participation in the outreach meeting of the G7 Summit, the premier's principal secretary Abul Kalam Azad said, "except Bangladesh other non-G7 countries are representing different regional groups while Bangladesh was specially invited for her remarkable success in different areas of global economy". 

The Prime Minister, he said, focused on many supplementary agenda of the G7 Summit in two sessions of the outreach meeting with an extra emphasis on women empowerment, quality infrastructure, environment and health, where Bangladesh has a good track record over the years. 

Azad said the G7 leaders took the issue of poverty eradication as a big agenda since the Bangladesh premier raised the issue at G7's outreach meeting in 2001.

Source: BSS.