UNIS/OUS/RI/022
4 December 2009
UNIDO and METRO Group to Sign Agreement in Vienna on 9 December to Jointly Combat Hunger
VIENNA, 4 December (UN Information Service) - The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and METRO Group, one of the world's largest retail groups, will sign an agreement on cooperation to combat hunger during UNIDO's General Conference in Vienna on 9 December.
The agreement will be signed by UNIDO Director-General, Kandeh K. Yumkella, and the CEO of METRO Group, Eckhard Cordes.
The cooperation between METRO Group and UNIDO started in Egypt. The joint activities target small-scale farmers and small and medium-size industries and focus on enhancing the compliance with international standards in production techniques, post-harvest practices and food safety. Farmers will be offered local access to markets by METRO Group's wholesale division Metro Cash & Carry, which in turn benefits the population.
METRO Group and UNIDO aim to help small producers to benefit from globalization by enhancing their knowledge and improving the quality of the products, as well as making them safer.
Journalists are invited to the signing ceremony at 11:00, on Wednesday, 9 December, in Room MoE, M Building of the Vienna International Centre, to be followed by press briefing in Conference Room M4.
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For media accreditation, please contact Sayaphol Sackda in the UNIDO Public Advocacy and Communication Unit, Telephone (+43-650) 354-0226, Email: s.sackda@unido.org
For further information, please contact:
George
Assaf
Spokesperson, UNIDO
Telephone: (+43-1) 26026-3849
Email:
g.assaf@unido.org
Website:
www.unido.org
Rüdiger
Stahlschmidt
Spokesman, METRO Group - METRO AG
Telephone: (+49 -211) 6886-2947
E-Mail:
Stahlschmidt@metro.de
Website:
http://www.metrogroup.de
