Maimunah Mohd Sharif: Consolidation of NGO opinions on Azerbaijan's initiative - important step towards sustainable development

The initiative to consolidate the views of non-governmental organizations, especially from Azerbaijan, which chaired the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), deserves high praise and is a necessary step towards common prosperity and sustainable development, Mayor of Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) Maimunah Mohd Sharif said in a video address to the participants of the founding conference of the Global South NGO Platform.

She noted that Azerbaijan has repeatedly demonstrated leadership in the global arena, including within the NAM and the COP29 climate conference.

“The presence of participants from over 90 countries in the Global South demonstrates the deep commitment of civil society to working together, planning and shaping the future. I thank Azerbaijan for hosting this impressive platform in beautiful Baku and for its leadership on the global stage. As the Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement from 2019 to 2023, Azerbaijan has played an important role in advancing multilateralism and inclusive dialogue, which is especially valuable in today’s geopolitical instability,” she noted.

Maimunah Mohd Sharif emphasized that Azerbaijan’s leadership was evident during COP29, where the country once again demonstrated its commitment to inclusivity by facilitating the launch of the Global South NGO Network.

“This initiative, which brings together over 1,023 civil society organizations from 137 countries, reflects the urgent need for a unified platform through which the Global South can act collectively,” she added.