Minister of Foreign Affairs Imma Tor highlights that “protecting the natural environment is not a constraint, but an opportunity to innovate, diversify the economy and build a more sustainable model”.
Today, Andorra officially opened the 7th Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership, a high-level international gathering bringing together, until Saturday, representatives of governments, international organisations and experts from around the world to advance the sustainable development of mountain regions.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Imma Tor, who inaugurated the event, recalled that mountain areas — which cover nearly a quarter of the Earth’s surface and are home to hundreds of millions of people — are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of global challenges. In this regard, she underscored the importance of the Mountain Partnership as a platform for cooperation, knowledge generation and the promotion of concrete actions to ensure sustainable and resilient development.
Tor also reaffirmed Andorra’s commitment to these objectives, highlighting the country’s experience as a mountain territory that has successfully struck a balance between progress and preservation. “Protecting our natural environment is not a constraint, but an opportunity to innovate, diversify the economy and build a more sustainable model,” she stated.
The Secretary-General of UN Tourism, Shaikha Nasser Al Nuwais, who also opened the meeting, emphasised the importance of mountains for the tourism sector. In this context, she noted that “well-developed tourism is not merely an industry, but a tool to empower communities, diversify livelihoods and create real incentives” for those who live in these areas.
For her part, Ludovica Trancredi Martinelli, Chair of the Mountain Partnership Steering Committee, stressed the importance of the event as a means to move towards concrete actions, strengthen cooperation among countries, set priorities and shape the future of the mountain agenda.
The meeting, held every four years and promoted by FAO, positions Andorra as a focal point for global debate on mountains. The Partnership brings together more than 700 members, including governments, international institutions, academia and civil society, all working jointly to advance concrete solutions.
Under the theme “Mountains for the Future: Responsible Tourism, Thriving Communities”, the three-day programme features plenary sessions, high-level roundtables and thematic panels focusing on key areas such as ecosystem protection, financing for sustainable development and strengthening mountain economies.
During the morning roundtables, discussions focused, among other topics, on climate action and the future of mountain areas. Over the three days of meetings, the Principality is hosting representatives from various governments — including ministers, deputy ministers and secretaries of state — from countries such as Germany, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Italy, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal and Kyrgyzstan, as well as officials from international organisations including the FAO, UN Tourism, UNESCO, the OSCE, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The meeting coincides with the World Congress on Snow, Mountain and Wellness Tourism taking place in the country, further reinforcing Andorra’s position as an active player in promoting a sustainable development model for mountain regions.
One of the key moments of the meeting will be the adoption, on Saturday, of the Andorra Declaration, a document that will set out guidelines and commitments to strengthen international cooperation and advance the protection and sustainable development of mountain areas.
In parallel, this afternoon (18.00), the exhibition Mountains for the Future, organised by UNESCO, focusing on responsible tourism in mountain regions and the well-being of mountain communities.
Press release written by the Government of Andorra
