Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen called for robust and meaningful global partnership for timely implementation of the Agenda 2030 and for reducing the risk of future disasters at the forty-fourth annual meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Member States of the G-77 yesterday.
Speaking at the event, Foreign Minister highlighted Bangladesh’s comprehensive response plan with a stimulus packages of around US$ 14.14 billion (4.3% of GDP) to secure life and livelihood of the people to minimize the impact of the pandemic under the leadership of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
In his statement, he raised about the potential loss of global economy and simultaneous social costs due to covid-19 which would be almost impossible to quantify. He also referred to the Rohingya crisis that has caused double jeopardy for Bangladesh in tandem with the pandemic and heavily disrupted its phenomenal success towards achieving the SDGs.
Dr. Momen further said ‘COVID-19 response and recovery process provides us with an opportunity to work together and response collectively for building a more sustainable and resilient world’. He emphasized on the significance of ensuring equitable access to safe, effective and affordable Covid-19 vaccines and other preventive tools in his remarks.
In a virtual platform, Foreign Ministers of the member states of the Group of 77 and China met on the occasion of their forty-fourth annual meeting yesterday and discussed the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, challenges faced by developing countries in the economic, social and environmental areas.