As part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's continuous contribution to global efforts to achieve the 17 goals outlined by the United Nation's (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Ministry of Economy and Planning will head the Kingdom's delegation attending this year's UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF). The annual forum is set to run between Tuesday, July 5 and Friday, July 15, 2022, under the theme "Building back better from the coronavirus (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development." In addition to the Ministry of Economy and Planning, the delegation includes representatives from, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Ministry of Environment, Water & Agriculture, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and the General Authority for Statistics. The 2022 HLPF will shed light on the progress being made by countries pursuing their own national sustainable development plans, while offering a collaborative platform for UN Member States to seek ways to accelerate further domestic progress while simultaneously contributing to international efforts to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Ministry of Economy and Planning will lead the Kingdom's delegation to the United Nations Economic and Social Council at its headquarters in New York, United States, which will also include several key government entities. As well as planning to participate in the sessions and discussions taking place throughout HLPF. Ayman Afghani, the deputy minister for policies and economic planning at the Ministry of Economy and Planning will lead the delegation. Speaking ahead of the event, Afghani said: "This year's UN High-Level Political Forum arrives at a crucial juncture in the decade of action." "We must take this moment to assess where we are, and where we need to be – both at a national and international level, with our deadline to achieve tangible results drawing ever closer." The Kingdom's delegation will shed light on the roadmap to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 through the Forum's activities, sessions and side events. At the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries in a global partnership. These 17 Goals focus on areas such as climate change, economic inequality, innovation, sustainable consumption, peace and justice, among other priorities. This year's HLPF will focus on five goals, Quality education, Gender equality, Life below water, Life on land, and Partnership for the goals. — SPA
