World Chambers Congress: Serious Steps Needed to Achieve Sustainable Development

Doha, April 25 (QNA) - Speakers at the 8th World Chambers Congress, hosted by the Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry on 22-25 April 2013, said the world's unstable economy needs to take serious steps to achieve sustainable development. Participants in a plenary session entitled "A World in Crisis" said conflicts, wars, natural disasters and climate change are global challenges must be addressed jointly between governments and the business sector, while highlighting the central role chambers of commerce can play in the economies of their countries by helping to guide the community and explain to it these challenges. They said chambers of commerce around the world should be part of a long-term global economic plan, through the strengthening of cooperation between governments and business sectors. Joost Hiltermann, chief operating officer of the International Crisis Group, said political conflicts and natural disasters are the main issues that make the world stop short of achieving economic development, noting that governmental economic corruption contributes significantly to the instability of global economy. He said that challenges in Arab countries, especially Arab spring countries, largely remain the same, adding that Arab uprisings broke out die to the lack of social justice and economic opportunities. For his part, Alan Leibman, Kerzner International CEO, said it is imperative to pay attention to innovation in all business sectors through the development of education and raising the individual capacity of those involved in business. He added that it is necessary not to only care about making high-quality products, but also to focus on developing education and pursuit of innovation. Leibman added that in order for world economies to create sustainable economic stability, successful projects around the world must be promoted so as to provide as many as possible job opportunities for the unemployed. Datuk Iqbal, chairman of the U.N. ESCAP Business Advisory Council, spoke of the importance of interaction between the public and private sectors, saying that the world has suffered for decades from economic and natural crises, noting that stagnation in world economies and lack of stability have resulted in weak global economic growth. (QNA)