NEW YORK: Kuwait affirmed its permanent readiness and cooperation to support the initiatives taken by the authorities to improve the lives of the peoples of the South by exploring innovative approaches and strategies. This came in Kuwait's speech delivered by Anaes Hamed Al-Ostad, Kuwait's diplomatic attache, during a session of the Second Committee of the United Nations General Assembly in the discussion of the item on South-South Cooperation for Development, held late Monday.

She indicated that in light of the decline in North-South cooperation, South-South cooperation has positively contributed to the development of international cooperation for implementing the goals of sustainable development in an effective manner. She expressed her wishes in this regard to see more cooperation within the framework of development among the countries of the South. She added that this plan was based on the Kuwait Declaration of 1977 on Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries.

Ostad said the cooperation added many innovations to overcome development challenges and the gaps they face, which undermine their local capacities to achieve the sustainable development goals by 2030. She reviewed development-related operational activities undertaken by Kuwait, as it contributed in financing many projects in many countries in various sectors such as energy, transportation, communications, water, sanitation and agriculture, in addition to health and education sectors. Ostad noted the development projects financed by the Kuwait Fund cover the goals of sustainable development, most notably the eradication of poverty, the provision of quality healthcare, welfare, education and gender equality. - KUNA