Minister of Economy and Planning Khalid Al-Qusaibi released Saudi Arabia’s 2nd United Nations Millennium Development Goals Report in Riyadh yesterday.
Al-Qusaibi said that the Kingdom has achieved a number the development goals set out by the UN, well in advance of the 2015 deadline. This feat was accomplished because the goals of the Eighth Development Plan (2005-2009) are similar to those of the United Nations, he noted.
In fact, Saudi Arabia has made such great strides in the eradication of poverty – one of the Millennium Goals – that it expects to eliminate poverty in the country by 2009.
The Millennium Development Goals were agreed upon by the world’s countries and leading development institutions at the 2000 UN Millennium Summit. They aim to increase global efforts to meet the needs of the world’s poorest.
The eight primary goals include the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger; universal primary education; the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women; reduced child mortality; improved maternal health; combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; ensuring environmental sustainability; and developing a global partnership for development.