The COVID-19 outbreak reminds the world that we need 鈥渢o enhance solidarity within the multilateral system鈥� to confront global challenges, the representative of Tanzania told the closing session of the UN鈥檚 annual high-level session on Tuesday.
鈥淭his Year鈥檚 General Debate hinges on multilateralism, which matches very well with our major pre-occupation to ensure that no one is left behind鈥�, UN Ambassador Kennedy Gastorn听on behalf of Tanzanian President John Pombe Joseph Magufuli.
He stated that the UN is 鈥渢he right platform to address global challenges鈥� and called听multilateralism 鈥渁n important tool for collaboration among nations鈥�.
Mr. Gastorn paid tribute to former President Benjamin William Mkapa, who died in July, and informed the delegates that the President Magufuli was unable to participate himself due to the country鈥檚 election campaign, as he vies for a second term on 28 October.
COVID complications
While thanking the UN system for its efforts to confront the听COVID-19听pandemic, Mr. Gastorn noted that his Government鈥檚 actions to mitigate and prevent its spread have had positive results, saying that 鈥渢oday, all socio-economic activities have resumed to normal鈥�.
鈥淭he pandemic has drastically claimed a lot of lives and distorted economies of individual countries and the world at large鈥�, he stated, echoing many previous speakers.听
Noting that developed and developing countries have been particularly hard hit, the Ambassador thanked development partners, including financial institutions for 鈥渄ebt relief, postponement of debt payments and provision of grants鈥�.
In implementing the听2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, he pointed out that Tanzania has accomplished 鈥渁 number of achievements鈥�, including the milestone of having been upgraded from least-developed to lower-middle income status by the World Bank in July.
Economic blueprint
Building a trade economy in Tanzania, has gone 鈥渉and-in-hand鈥� with the construction of a hydro-electric power plant in the Rufiji river to boost energy supply in industries, according to the Ambassador.
鈥淥ur blueprint for industrial economy and human development seeks to address the infrastructure and regulatory hurdles and thereby create a smart, functional and fair investment and business regulatory regime鈥�, he explained.
Tanzania stands with the UN
On the international front, he stressed that the UN鈥檚 credibility rests on a 鈥渨ell-represented and responsive听Security Council鈥� and closed by pledging Tanzania鈥檚 continued support to ensure success in its Global agenda.
鈥淭anzania reiterates its commitment to multilateralism and calls upon all Member States to embrace it for a just and better world鈥�, Ambassador Gastorn concluded.
You can read the full statement听.
