For information only - not an official document
UNIS/OUS/283
15 May 2015
TOKYO/VIENNA, 13 May (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) - During his official visit to Japan, LI Yong, the Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), met Yasuhide Nakayama, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Yoshihiro Seki, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
Director General Li explained that the purpose of his visit to Japan, which he deemed very timely and important, was to highlight several elements of the cooperation between UNIDO and Japan, and to listen to the Government of Japan with a view to identifying areas where the cooperation between UNIDO and Japan could be further strengthened.
Li expressed his gratitude for the long-standing and solid support of the Government of Japan, evidenced by the regular and on-time payment of Japan's large share of assessed contributions to UNIDO's regular budget, as well as the generous funding of individual projects through voluntary contributions.
The Director General expressed his appreciation for the vision of the Government of Japan, declared in the development cooperation charter in February this year, particularly the aim of poverty eradication through "quality growth" (inclusive, sustainable and resilient growth), which is fully in line with UNIDO's mandate of inclusive and sustainable industrial development. He stressed that UNIDO's work is also very much about empowering individuals, in particular members of vulnerable groups such as women and youth or people in post-crisis situations, and about giving them equal opportunities to participate in the growth process, thus creating the foundation for social progress. He underlined that inclusiveness means that no one is left behind.
Li also shared examples of UNIDO's cooperation with Japan, such as UNIDO's contribution in the area of human security since 2003; UNIDO's support for the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) since 1993; the accomplishments of UNIDO's ITPO Tokyo Office; and the Low Carbon Low Emission Clean Energy Transfer Programme (LCET) funded by METI, which he called a flagship initiative; as well as various other examples of investment and technology transfer. He also outlined UNIDO's contributions to climate change mitigation and its activities as an implementing agency of the Global Environment Facility and the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol.
State Minister Nakayama expressed his appreciation of the Director General's views on UNIDO's added value and the aspirations for further effective management of the Organization, which he hoped would be persuasive arguments showing the relevance of UNIDO.
Nakayama welcomed that inclusive and sustainable industrial development meant to make it possible for everyone to achieve everlasting growth and that this approach will contribute to the post-2015 development agenda. He also stated his appreciation of the networking platform that the Organization provided for both developing and developed countries. The State Minister for Foreign Affairs expressed his wish for further enhancement of the best use of technology and know-how of the Japanese private sector through the implementation of UNIDO projects. He concluded with his own rendition of what the acronym UNIDO stands for: "U 'n I DO!" (You and I do!).
Parliamentary Vice-Minister Seki expressed his appreciation for the work undertaken by the Organization, which he considers very active, meaningful and successful. He was pleased to hear that METI staff seconded to UNIDO provided high-quality contributions to international development. He concluded that the Ministry would be very interested in further expanding cooperation with UNIDO, and offered his support in this regard. He mentioned that the forthcoming Vienna Energy Forum 2015, and the TICAD 6 Conference, set to take place next year, as well as collaboration at the project level, will provide ample opportunities for enhanced cooperation.
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For more information, please contact:
Christoph
Klose
Office for Strategic Planning, Coordination and Quality Monitoring, UNIDO
Email: c.klose[at]unido.org
