Latest news with #RebecaGrynspan
Qatar Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar Mission in Geneva honours winner of‘Doha Best Negotiator of the Year' award
QNA Geneva The Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva hosted an official ceremony to honour Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), for receiving the prestigious 'Doha Best Negotiator of the Year' award. This award, presented annually by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), recognises outstanding contributions to international negotiation and mediation. In her address at the ceremony, HE Dr Hend bint Abdalrahman Al Muftah, Qatar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other international organisations in Geneva, welcomed ambassadors, diplomats, and representatives of international organisations, alongside officials from UNITAR and the ADN Group—an international agency specialising in negotiation. Dr Al Muftah noted that the 2024 edition of the award holds particular significance for Qatar, as it was renamed the Doha Best Negotiator of the Year Award in recognition of its announcement during the Doha World Negotiation Day, hosted by UNITAR and the ADN Group in collaboration with the Doha Forum. She emphasised that this ceremony reflects Qatar's steadfast commitment to promoting a culture of negotiation, mediation, and peaceful resolution—core tenets of its foreign policy. The award, she said, aims to honour individuals who make effective contributions toward resolving international conflicts and fostering humane, just, and sustainable solutions. Highlighting Qatar's two-decade record as a neutral, trusted mediator, Dr Al Muftah outlined the country's achievements in facilitating ceasefires, restoring diplomatic ties, securing hostage releases, negotiating prisoner exchanges, enabling national dialogue, resolving border disputes, achieving humanitarian outcomes, and brokering peace agreements in numerous global conflicts. Commending Grynspan's distinguished career, Dr Al Muftah underscored her pivotal role in the Istanbul agreements—particularly the Black Sea Initiative, which enabled the export of millions of tonnes of grain and food supplies from Ukraine, thereby bolstering global food security and mitigating famine risks in low-income nations. Dr Al Muftah praised Grynspan's unwavering commitment to ethical diplomacy, human rights, and environmental responsibility, stating that these values form the foundation of effective international negotiation. She also paid tribute to negotiators around the world who work under challenging conditions to secure peace and protect lives, affirming Qatar's ongoing dedication to mediation and peaceful solutions as a responsible international partner. In her response, Rebeca Grynspan expressed deep gratitude to the State of Qatar for the honour, reaffirming her commitment to a fair, inclusive diplomacy that serves humanity and promotes global stability.
Qatar Tribune
6 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar's Permanent Mission in Geneva honours winner of 'Doha Best Negotiator of the Year' award
GENEVA: The Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva has organised an official ceremony at the Mission's headquarters to honour Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Rebeca Grynspan for winning the 'Doha Best Negotiator of the Year' Award, which is awarded annually by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in recognition of outstanding contributions to international negotiation and mediation. In her speech at the ceremony, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN Office and other international organisations in Geneva HE Dr Hend bint Abdalrahman Al Muftah welcomed the attendees, including ambassadors, diplomats, and representatives of international organizations, as well as officials from the UNITAR and the ADN Group, an international agency specializing in negotiation. She said that the 2024 award is special to the State of Qatar, as it has been named the 'Doha Best Negotiator of the Year' Award, given its announcement during the Doha World Negotiation Day, hosted by the UNITAR and the ADN Group, in partnership with the Doha Forum. Organising this ceremony falls within the framework of the State of Qatar's commitment to promoting a culture of negotiation, mediation, and peaceful solutions, she added, noting that these principles constitute fundamental pillars of Qatari foreign policy. She further added that the award aims to honor individuals who effectively contribute to resolving international conflicts and finding humane, just, and sustainable settlements. Over the past two decades, the State of Qatar has acted as a neutral, reliable, and responsible mediator, and has achieved a remarkable record of successes in dozens of regional and international issues, including establishing ceasefires, restoring diplomatic relations, releasing hostages, exchanging prisoners, paving the way for national dialogue, resolving border disputes, achieving humanitarian outcomes, and concluding peace agreements in numerous regional and global conflicts, she said. She also commended the career of Grynspan who deserved the award for her pivotal role in the Istanbul agreements, including the Black Sea Initiative, which facilitated the export of millions of tons of grain and food supplies from Ukraine, helping to support global food security and reduce famine in low-income countries. Commending Grynspan's commitment to ethical standards, to protecting human rights, and to environmental considerations in the negotiation process, she emphasized that these values ​​represent the essence of effective diplomacy. The Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations in Geneva paid tribute to negotiators around the world who dedicate their efforts to achieving peace and saving lives, despite the grave challenges they face. She affirmed that Qatar will remain an effective international partner in supporting mediation and peaceful solutions. For her part, Grynspan conveyed her profound gratitude to the State of Qatar for this honor, affirming her commitment to continuing to work for a fair and comprehensive diplomacy that serves humanity and supports global stability.
Trade Arabia
09-04-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
UN Tourism, UNCTAD unveil sustainable investment principles
UN Tourism and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) have set out a shared roadmap for building a resilient, inclusive, and environmentally responsible tourism sector, through sustainable investments. The joint "Guiding Principles for Sustainable Investment in Tourism" are designed to guide policymakers and stakeholders in efforts to build a more comprehensive investment framework aimed at steering global tourism investments towards a more sustainable and inclusive future. The 18 Guiding Principles create a pioneering framework for policies that aim to attract sustainable investment in tourism. They offer a roadmap to achieve a set of multifaceted objectives and are grounded in a comprehensive policy approach that integrates governance, economic, sociocultural, and environmental dimensions. The four constituent dimensions of the principles are connected and interacting and many of the principles mutually support one another. Investment in sustainable tourism takes all four dimensions into account and creates inclusive long-term growth that aligns in all aspects with the SDGs. The Guiding Principles: Support the establishment, at the sub-national, national and international level of appropriate policies, guidelines, institutions and regulations, in accordance with national priorities and legislation, for promoting and supporting sustainable tourism development. Advocate policies that attract responsible investments aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Underscore the importance of public-private partnerships, the integration of innovative technologies, and the engagement of local communities in decision-making processes. UN Tourism Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili says: "The tourism sector holds the potential to drive sustainable economic growth, but only if we embrace investment practices that align with the needs of the environment and society. By implementing these Guiding Principles, we can foster a global tourism sector that is not only profitable but also sustainable and transformative. This approach will ensure that tourism contributes positively to the health of our planet, enriches the cultural fabric of our societies and drives long-term prosperity for future generations." Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, says: "Tourism is a vital economic engine that fosters mutual understanding and sustainable development. By embedding sustainability in tourism investments, we can ensure that this sector becomes a catalyst for transformative and inclusive growth, benefiting economies and communities alike. The Guiding Principles offer a strategic roadmap for policymakers, investors and stakeholders to navigate the complexities of sustainable tourism investment." Platforming tourism investments at the Annual Investment Congress (AIM) The joint report was launched as part of the Annual Investment Congress (AIM), held in Abu Dhabi, (UAE) on 8 April 2025, within UN Tourism's "Ministerial Roundtable on Investment in Tourism: Shaping Tourism Investment Opportunities through Policy Innovation" in collaboration with AIM and with the full support of UNCTAD. This marks the first time ever that UN Tourism and UNCTAD have collaborated on preparing a comprehensive investment framework aimed at steering global tourism investments towards a more sustainable and inclusive future.
Euronews
07-04-2025
- Business
- Euronews
AI could impact 40 per cent of jobs worldwide in the next decade, UN agency warns
ADVERTISEMENT Artificial intelligence (AI) may impact 40 per cent of jobs worldwide, which could mean overall productivity growth but many could use their jobs, a new report from the United Nations Department of Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has found. The report , which was published on Monday, says that AI could impact jobs in four main ways: either by replacing or complementing human work, deepening automation, and possibly creating new jobs, such as in AI research or development. A handful of companies that control the world's advancement in AI 'often favour capital over labour,' the report continues, which means there is a risk that AI 'reduces the competitive advantage' of low-cost labour from developing countries. Related The 5 new jobs being created in Europe because of AI Rebeca Grynspan, UCTAD's Secretary-General, said in a statement that there needs to be stronger international cooperation to shift the focus away 'from technology to people". 100 companies account for half the world's AI investment AI is supposed to lead to $4.8 trillion (€4.38 trillion) in market value by 2033 but the beneficiaries are still highly concentrated, the report found. Just 100 companies, mostly based in the United States and China, account for almost half of the world's research and development spending in AI. Market dominance, at both national and corporate levels, may widen technological divides, leaving many developing nations at risk of missing out on its benefits. 2025 Technology and Innovation Report UNCTAD Both countries also produce one-third of peer-reviewed articles and two-thirds of AI patents, which shows that they "dominate knowledge generation," in the field. The report notes that tech giants like Apple, NVIDIA and Microsoft, all of whom are based in the US, have a market value of $3 trillion (€2.73 trillion), which rivals the economy of the whole African continent. Related More than 3 out of 4 workers have already used AI in their job search, new survey finds Amazon and Alphabet, Google's parent company, are worth at least $2 trillion (€1.82 trillion). "Market dominance, at both national and corporate levels, may widen technological divides, leaving many developing nations at risk of missing out on its benefits," the report found. The EU has launched antitrust investigations into many of the above companies but in recent days have, in some cases, considered revising digital services taxes on their European operations. The study also evaluated how competitive countries are with other frontier technologies. It found the US has the edge in digital technologies like AI, the Internet, big data, blockchain, and 3D printing. China, on the other hand, leads development in 5G cellular networks, drones, and solar photovoltaics (PVs). Related AI is too expensive to replace humans in jobs right now, MIT study finds Japan and Korea are also competitive in these areas, along with nanotechnologies, and robotics development. The UN found that 118 countries, mostly from the Global South, are missing from the conversations about how to govern AI. ADVERTISEMENT How to prepare for the 'fifth industrial revolution' AI uses machine learning to identify patterns and relationships from huge amounts of data, with their performance improving over time. This means that these systems are not limited to routines and structured tasks like previous automation technologies, the report found. The result is that AI systems can in theory outperform older systems and possibly human performance, especially in highly skilled jobs. But, when combined with other systems, it can control physical production. Related How do you get ahead in an AI-dominated jobs market? These skills are what you need to master The impact that AI is going to have on the labour force depends on how automation, augmentation, and new positions interact. ADVERTISEMENT The UNCTAD said developing countries need to invest in reliable internet connections, making high-quality data sets available to train AI systems and building education systems that give them necessary digital skills, the report added. To do this, UNCTAD recommends building a shared global facility that would share AI tools and computing power equitably between nations.
Iraqi News
03-04-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
AI could impact 40 percent of jobs worldwide: UN
Geneva – The global artificial intelligence market is projected to reach $4.8 trillion — roughly the size of Germany's economy — by 2033, the UN said Thursday, warning nearly half of jobs worldwide could be affected. While AI is transforming economies and creating vast opportunities, the technology also risks deepening existing inequalities, the UN trade and development agency UNCTAD warned in a report. In particular, the report cautioned that 'AI could impact 40 percent of jobs worldwide, offering productivity gains but also raising concerns about automation and job displacement'. While previous waves of technology mainly impacted blue-collar jobs, UNCTAD highlighted that knowledge-intensive sectors would be left most exposed by AI. This means advanced economies will surely be hardest-hit, it said, adding though that these economies were better positioned to harness the benefits of AI than developing economies. 'The benefits of AI-driven automation often favour capital over labour, which could widen inequality and reduce the competitive advantage of low-cost labour in developing economies,' UNCTAD said. In a statement, the agency chief Rebeca Grynspan underlined the importance of ensuring people are at the centre of AI development, urging stronger international cooperation to 'shift the focus from technology to people, enabling countries to co-create a global artificial intelligence framework'. 'History has shown that while technological progress drives economic growth, it does not on its own ensure equitable income distribution or promote inclusive human development,' she warned in the report. – $4.8 trillion – In 2023, so-called frontier technologies like the internet, blockchain, 5G, 3D printing and AI, represented a $2.5-trillion market, with that number expected to increase sixfold in the next decade to $16.4 trillion, the report said. And by 2033, AI will be the leading technology in this sector, with an expected value of $4.8 trillion, it showed. But UNCTAD cautioned that access to AI infrastructure and expertise remained concentrated in just a few economies, with only 100 firms, mainly in the US and China, currently accounting for 40 percent of global corporate research and development spending. 'Countries should act now,' the agency said, insisting that 'by investing in digital infrastructure, building capabilities, and strengthening AI governance', they could 'harness the AI potential for sustainable development'. 'AI is not just about replacing jobs,' it said, insisting the technology could 'also create new industries and empower workers'. 'Investing in reskilling, upskilling, and workforce adaptation is essential to ensure AI enhances employment opportunities rather than eliminating them.' The UN agency stressed the need for all countries to take part in discussions around how to govern AI. 'AI is shaping the world's economic future, yet 118 countries – mostly in the Global South – are absent from major AI governance discussions,' it said. 'As AI regulation and ethical frameworks take shape, developing nations must have a seat at the table to ensure AI serves global progress, not just the interests of a few.'
