For information only - not an official document
UNIS/OUS/113
25 November 2011
UNIDO General Conference to Open in Vienna on Monday
VIENNA, 25 November (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) - The Fourteenth Session of the General Conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) will open in Vienna on Monday.
The five-day event will bring together Heads of State and Government, including the President of Sierra Leone, the Vice-President of Ecuador, Ministers and other high-level officials from around the world. Senior representatives of many international organizations will also attend the session, including from the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States.
This year, the event will have an overarching theme focused on "The new industrial revolution: making it sustainable". This highlights the fact that inclusive and sustainable industrial development strategies are of critical importance to reconcile the three dimensions of sustainability: environmental, economic and social.
The General Conference, as the highest policymaking organ of UNIDO, consists of all 174 Member States. At the session, Member States will be elected to the Industrial Development Board and the Programme and Budget Committee of the Organization and in addition, there are several pending decisions for consideration, including the approval of the programme and budgets for the forthcoming biennium.
The General Conference will feature keynote addresses by invited Heads of State and Government and Ministers, as well as an interactive debate on making the new industrial revolution sustainable which will be moderated by Zeinab Badawi.
Panelists in the discussion will include Irene Giner-Reichl, Director-General for development cooperation, Austrian Foreign Ministry; Janez Potocnik, European Commissioner for the Environment; Jeremy Rifkin, president of the Foundation on Economic Trends; Ms Bah, minister of industry and SMEs of Guinea; Mayi Antillon Guerrero, minister for economy, industry and trade of Costa Rica; Rezaul Hasanat, chairman and CEO of the Viyellatex Group, India; and Dov Zerah, Director-General of the French Development Agency.
Journalists are invited to the opening of the General Conference at 10:00, on Monday, 28 November, in the Plenary Hall, M Building, Vienna International Centre, to be followed by a press conference at 12:30 in room MOE 71.
The press conference will feature Jeremy Rifkin, President of the Foundation on Economic Trends and author of Third Industrial Revolution and UNIDO Director-General, Kandeh K. Yumkella.
Five regional Round Tables will be organized during the General Conference.
29 November
9:30 - Africa Round Table - Economic diversification strategies: a key driver in Africa's new industrial revolution.
11:30 - Asia and the Pacific Round Table - Prosperity for the billions in Asia and the Pacific: green growth and poverty reduction.
14:30 - Arab region Round Table - Youth participation in the inclusive economic development of the Arab region.
30 November
9:30 - Europe and NIS region Round Table - Promoting innovative industries and technologies for a sustainable future of the Europe and NIS region.
11:30 - Latin America and the Caribbean Round Table - Will the new green industrial revolution reduce income inequalities in Latin America and the Caribbean?
For more information on the General Conference, please click here http://www.unido.org/index.php?id=1001772
* *** *
For media accreditation, please contact the UNIDO Advocacy and Communications Group at communications@unido.org or contact:
Mikhail
Evstafyev
UNIDO Advocacy and Communications Coordinator
Telephone: (+43-1) 26026-5021
Mobile: (+43-699) 1459-7329
Email M.Evstafyev[at]unido.org
