For information only - not an official document
UNIS/OUS/263
5 November 2014
Re-issued as received
VIENNA, 5 November (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) - HAI Helen, CEO at China Africa Consulting Ltd, was today appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
The appointment was made by UNIDO Director General, LI Yong, during the second UNIDO Forum on inclusive and sustainable industrial development taking place in Vienna this week.
"HAI Helen is an experienced business executive and an expert in the field of development. As a Goodwill Ambassador for Africa's Industrialization, she will champion the core theme of UNIDO - namely the critical role of inclusive and sustainable industrial development," said Director-General Li.
The UNIDO forum is expected to endorse new pilot partnership programmes for inclusive and sustainable industrial development in Ethiopia and Senegal. The Organization's work in the field was lauded by the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn, and the Prime Minister of Senegal, Mahammed Dionne, who spoke at the opening of the forum.
"UNIDO is fully committed to supporting the Governments of Ethiopia and Senegal in implementing the two programmes. These pilot Programmes for Country Partnership mark the beginning of a larger, more comprehensive and ambitious approach to how UNIDO undertakes technical cooperation with and for Member States to support their industrialization agenda. I am confident that our new Goodwill Ambassador will help us take these efforts further," said LI Yong.
HAI Helen, a national of the People's Republic of China, has spent over two years in Ethiopia where she established a factory producing shoes for Huajian, one of the biggest shoe makers in China. During this time, she worked closely with the country's prime minister. Hai said: "We share the same goal of demonstrating that Africa can be a manufacturer for the world, and I can also contribute to the continent's global platform. I am very much looking forward to being a goodwill ambassador for UNIDO."
UNIDO's first Goodwill Ambassador Programme was inaugurated in October 2004. Outstanding public figures, eminent businessmen and industrialists from various regions of the world have been selected for this function to collaborate in the implementation of UNIDO's activities.
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For further information 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
