The Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD) participated in the 11th International Conference of the Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED), during the period from the 8th to the 9th of November 2018, under the theme "Financing Sustainable Development in the Arab Countries", in Beirut, Lebanon. The conference was under the high patronage of the Lebanese Prime Minister His Excellency Mr Saad Al Hariri who was represented by the former Prime Minister His Excellency Fuad Siniora during the event.

During his speech, the former Prime Minister His Excellency Fuad Siniora said that, "The objectives of sustainable development cannot be achieved without the adoption of radical reforms in the economic, social and administrative fields that are compatible with the changes, stimulate the role of the private sector and raise levels of productivity and competitiveness in the national economy,". He called on the Arab banking sector to adopt new and innovative methods to contribute to securing the financing required for sustainable development, and to develop regulatory and supervisory frameworks and fiscal policies to encourage the private sector and banks to enter the green economy.

 The Conference recommended the development of realistic and feasible integrated strategies and plans, with clear and sequenced priorities for sustainable development objectives at the local level, in accordance with specific implementation timetable, supported by well-prepared feasibility studies, joined with the adoption of the appropriate legislative and regulatory framework to ensure donor confidence. The conference also stressed the need to establish the necessary laws and legislation to attract aid and investments, stop waste and develop tax systems to enhance sources of income while ensuring fair distribution of wealth.

It is worth mentioning that the participants were; Ministers, deputies, diplomats, heads of environmental organizations and regional and global development funds, including the World Bank, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Islamic Development Bank and the Kuwait Fund.