2-OPEC Fund Development Forum 2024 - Context Setting Keynotes

Dr Kandeh Yumkella - Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security, Sierra Leone - The Road to 2030
The UN’s 2030 Agenda is clearly off track, with nearly a third of the SDGs either stalled or going in reverse. The number of people living in extreme poverty has in fact increased over the last five years; hunger has soared to levels last seen in 2005; and global gender equality is still three centuries away from being achieved. How can we - the international development community - convert grand declarations and massive commitments into concrete support for vulnerable communities worldwide?
Three of the OPEC Fund’s core priorities are central to enabling the kind of solutions required: enhancing institutional capacity, accelerating investment in infrastructure, and developing human capital.
Dr Yumkella will lay out the context for the day around these three themes. Drawing from his extensive development experience to highlight the centrality of these themes to achieving the SDGs and global development outcomes. He will give an overview of what makes these elements so critical to equitable development, explaining how they are not only interconnected but also interdependent. They will also touch on the roadblocks to progress, particularly in the “last mile” of development, before proposing how collaboration and innovation can bridge the gap between promise and practice, while serving as a catalyst for delivery.
Nurlan Baybazarov, Deputy Prime Minister, Kazakhstan - Fostering Kazakhstan’s Strategic Development through Institutional Reform, Human Capital Enhancement, and Robust Infrastructure
The Republic of Kazakhstan is harnessing strategic investments in infrastructure and human capital alongside comprehensive institutional reforms. This strategy is aimed at bolstering Kazakhstan's position not just as a regional, but as a global player in fostering sustainable economic growth and stability.
Central to Kazakhstan’s development strategy is the strengthening of institutional capacities which enables the government to function more efficiently and transparently, thereby enhancing service delivery across sectors. Complementing these efforts are substantial investments in human capital to ensure that Kazakhstan’s workforce can meet future economic demands. The "Nurly Zhol" initiative, which encapsulates Kazakhstan's ambitious infrastructure projects designed to enhance connectivity within the region and beyond also highlight the country’s investments in upgrading roads, railways, and ports, crucial for facilitating trade and economic activities.
The Deputy Prime Minister will highlight how together, these integrated strategies of reforming institutions, enhancing human capital, and investing in infrastructure development underscore Kazakhstan's approach to achieving sustainable development and economic diversification.’
Liao Min, Vice Minister of Finance - The Pillars of China’s Development Success
The People’s Republic of China has transformed into a global economic powerhouse, lifting almost 800 million out of poverty through strategic investments in infrastructure and human capital, in addition to targeted policy actions.
In addition to highlighting some of the measures that made this progress possible, the speech will underline China's commitment to strengthening partnerships with countries worldwide, advocating for mutual respect, shared benefits, and win-win cooperation as the foundation for international relations.
Additionally, the speech will stress the importance of South-South cooperation, showcasing how developing countries can leverage shared experiences and resources to tackle common challenges such as poverty, climate change, and food security. The Vice Minister will reaffirm China’s dedication to global cooperation and call for unified action to achieve sustainable development goals, expressing optimism about the collective capacity to overcome global challenges through strengthened partnerships.

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