For information only - not an official document
UNIS/OUS/224
2 December 2013
LIMA/VIENNA 2 December 2013 (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) - The General Conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), which opened today in the capital of Peru, has adopted a new Lima Declaration that charts the Organization's development priorities for the coming years and places special emphasis on inclusive and sustainable industrial development.
"While integrating in a balanced way all three dimensions of sustainable development - economic, social and environmental - we believe that the effective measures towards inclusive and sustainable industrial development should encompass enhancing productive capacities in a way that supports the structural transformation of the economy; encourages economic growth and the creation of decent jobs; enhances productivity and development, transfer and absorption of technology on mutually agreed terms; and supports related research and development," states the document, adopted by representatives of UNIDO's Member States taking part in the five-day event.
The declaration stresses the relevance of inclusive and sustainable industrial development as the basis for sustained economic growth and, while respecting the processes established by the UN General Assembly, encourages appropriate consideration of the issue in the elaboration of the post-2015 development agenda.
"Nearly forty years ago, Lima hosted a UNIDO General Conference which passed a milestone document - the Lima Declaration on Industrial Development and Cooperation. I am honoured that today our country is once again receiving high-ranking representatives of all UNIDO Member States, and once again a historic document is being adopted," said Peru's President Ollanta Humala, who officially opened the General Conference.
The Lima Declaration states that UNIDO should serve as a global facilitator of knowledge and advice on policies and strategies towards achieving inclusive and sustainable industrial development; and should focus on the three thematic priorities in which it has comparative advantage and expertise: productive capacity-building, trade capacity-building, and sustainable production and industrial resource efficiency.
Speaking at the opening of the General Conference, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that the Lima Declaration "will create the foundation for the coming decades of UNIDO's important work as the central agency in the United Nations for all matters related to industrialization." He noted the deadline on accelerating action towards the Millennium Development Goals, shaping a bold and inspiring new development agenda, and reaching a new legal agreement on climate change is the year 2015, and that industry and the private sector in general will play an important part in efforts over the next two years to steer "the human family on a safer, more prosperous and sustainable path."
Li Yong, the Director General of UNIDO, said: "The Lima Declaration is a manifestation of Members States' support for and confidence in UNIDO. It is a roadmap for the future of the Organization and sets a solid basis for further advancing industrial development in the post-2015 and Sustainable Development Goals processes. It highlights UNIDO's critical expertise and experience in the field of inclusive and sustainable industrial development, and in forging new development partnerships."
"There is a diversity of ways to achieve sustainable development and each country has the primary responsibility for its own development and the right to determine its own development paths and appropriate strategies. UNIDO stands ready to support these needs," added Director General Li.
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The Lima Declaration can be found here: http://www.unido.org/fileadmin/user_media_upgrade/Media_center/2013/News/GC15/UNIDO_GC15_Lima_Declaration.pdf
For more information on the conference, please visit: http://www.unido.org/gc15.html
The text of the1975 Lima Declaration can be found here
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For more information on UNIDO, please contact:
Mikhail
Evstafyev
UNIDO Advocacy and External Relations Group Coordinator
Telephone: (+43-1) -26026-5021
Mobile: (+43-699) -1459-7329
Email: M. Evstafyev[at]unido.org
