For information only - not an official document

UNIS/OUS/162
14 November 2012

Re-issued as received

2012 South-South Expo opens in Vienna on 19 November to showcase successful development solutions in energy, climate change

VIENNA, 14 November (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) - The fifth annual Global South-South Development Expo (GSSD Expo) will open at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna on 19 November.

The five-day event will showcase and promote concrete innovative solutions that demonstrate how governments and civil society from the South are expanding access to energy, while also combating climate change, global health pandemics and the lack of social protection for vulnerable populations.

The GSSD Expo 2012 is hosted by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in conjunction with more than 20 UN agencies and partners.

At the opening ceremony on 19 November, statements will be made by John W. Ashe, President of the General Assembly High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation; Mourad Benmehidi, Chair of the Group of 77; Verónica Sión, Ecuador Minister of Industry and Productivity; Kandeh K. Yumkella, Director-General of UNIDO; Rebeca Grynspan, Associate Administrator of UNDP; Kris M. Balderston, Special Representative for Global Partnerships, Global Partnership Initiative, Office of the US Secretary of State; and Yiping Zhou, Director, United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation.

Journalists are invited to the opening ceremony at 9am and a press conference at 11:45am on Monday, 19 November, at the Hofburg Palace, Mittlere Lounge.

Please indicate your interest in attending these events by sending an email to communications@unido.org

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For more information on the Expo, please visit www.unido.org or www.southsouthexpo.org

For more information on UNIDO, please contact:

Mikhail Evstafyev
UNIDO Advocacy and Communications Coordinator
Telephone: (+43-1) 26026-5021
Mobile: (+43-699) 1459-7329
Email: M.Evstafyev[at]unido.org