The United Nations on Friday approved an Israel-initiated resolution in which
the international body affirmed for the first time that entrepreneurship was a
critical development tool.
The UN Second Committee adopted the
“Entrepreneurship for Development” resolution by a 129-31 vote.
In
response to the vote, Israeli Ambassador to the UN in New York Ron Prosor said
the committee had sent “a clear and simple message: Entrepreneurship is a
primary pathway to sustainable economic growth for all.”
The mission in
New York explained that the resolution was a shift in the UN’s development
strategy, from providing aid to empowering people in developing countries to
help themselves through entrepreneurship.
Last year, the UN also
supported an Israeli resolution on agricultural technology.
Israel hailed
Friday’s vote as a diplomatic victory, given that the UN often attacks Israel
rather than supports it.
Prosor chastised the UN’s Arab Group for voting
against it, noting that “few places could benefit from entrepreneurship more
than the Arab world.
“Every Arab delegate who voted ‘no’ is sending the
message that he cares far more about petty politics than human prosperity,”
Prosor said, adding that the resolution offered hope to people around the world,
from the mountains of Nepal to the sands of the Sahara
Desert.
“Regardless of size, every business venture – from a small
start-up in the Amazon to the next Amazon.com – must be given the chance to
thrive,” the Israeli ambassador continued.
“Israel’s story shows that if
you want stability, empower your people. If you want prosperity, invest in your
citizens.”
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