Doha, Qatar: The United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), HE Dr. Rania Al Mashat, underscored the State of Qatar's role in advancing sustainable development and multilateral cooperation, while stressing the importance of expanding cooperation between ESCWA and Qatar in areas including social protection, digital transformation, innovation, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Dr. Al Mashat said her visit to Doha reflects the strong and longstanding partnership between ESCWA and the State of Qatar, which she described as a key partner in advancing sustainable development across the Arab region.
She said she had met with a number of Qatari officials to discuss support for the sustainable development agenda at both the regional and international levels, as well as ways to strengthen the exchange of expertise and technical knowledge to advance development initiatives across the Arab region.
Highlighting Qatar's role in promoting multilateral cooperation, Dr. Al Mashat commended the country's steadfast support for the Palestinian cause and its efforts to promote peace in the region, stressing the importance of sustaining initiatives aimed at enhancing regional stability and addressing common challenges.
Asked to assess Qatar's progress in sustainable development and digital transformation, Dr. Al Mashat commended the country's achievements in advancing its development agenda and its strong commitment to solidarity and multilateral cooperation in support of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly amid the complex and interconnected challenges facing the Arab region.
She added that ESCWA is working closely with the State of Qatar to strengthen SDG data governance through advisory services and national workshops aimed at improving data quality and enhancing the timely availability of data. The collaboration also includes the localization of ESCWA's SDG monitoring and reporting platform.
On digital transformation, she said Qatar ranked among the top performers in the 2025 Government Electronic and Mobile Services (GEMS) Maturity Index, which covered 17 countries. She credited the country with successfully expanding digital government services across key sectors, including commerce and industry, cross-government services, justice, municipal affairs, education, healthcare, labor, and tourism.
The UN official also expressed her hope for expanding cooperation with the State of Qatar in the coming years, particularly in the areas of strategic planning, statistics, artificial intelligence (AI), and emerging technologies.
Addressing the economic and technological challenges facing the Arab region, Dr. Al Mashat said Arab countries, including Qatar, are well positioned to accelerate sustainable development, strengthen regional integration, and support ESCWA's efforts to help countries transform challenges into opportunities.
She added that this requires advancing digital transformation, harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence and innovation, improving the efficiency of public institutions, creating jobs, and equipping people with the skills needed for the economy of the future.
She added that achieving these objectives also requires economic and social policies that strengthen social protection, enhance food and water security, and mobilize the financing needed to advance sustainable development, thereby fostering more resilient and inclusive economies across the Arab region.
Concluding her interview with QNA, Dr. Al Mashat underscored the importance of sustained investment in human capital, technology and innovation, alongside enhanced Arab cooperation in trade, development finance and knowledge exchange. She emphasized that the challenges confronting the region transcend borders and require collective Arab action to deepen regional integration and advance sustainable and inclusive prosperity for all.
