For information only - not an official document
UNIS/OUS/290
11 June 2015
Re-issued as received
BEIJING/VIENNA, 8 June (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) - The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Export-Import Bank of China (China Eximbank) will jointly promote inclusive and sustainable industrial development in different regions of the world.
The emphasis will be put on developing countries mainly located along the Silk Road Economic Belt and Maritime Silk Road, as well as on Ethiopia and Senegal, which are part of UNIDO's Programmes for Country Partnership.
A memorandum of understanding on this matter was signed in Beijing today by LI Yong, the Director General of UNIDO, and HU Xiaolian, President of China Eximbank.
UNIDO and China Eximbank will work closely on industrial development planning and system upgrading, and on developing activities in the field of light industry, including agro-industry, as well as renewable energy development (biomass, small hydropower, etc.) The two entities will also be jointly promoting private sector development; the development and upgrading of industrial parks and zones; and knowledge transfer on innovative and successful global best techniques and practices through South-South and triangular cooperation.
"We see our initial cooperation focusing on the following areas: on building the inclusive and sustainable development capacity of developing countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt and Maritime Silk Road, and on implementing projects to scale up investments in inclusive and sustainable industrial development in two pilot countries, Ethiopia and Senegal," said Director General Li.
He added that inclusive and sustainable industrial development includes three dimensions - social equity, economic growth and environmental protection - and is the focus of UNIDO's mandate, approved by Member States. This agreement is part of UNIDO's renewed efforts to establish cooperation partnerships with various international financial institutions to support and scale up business infrastructure and investments in developing countries.
"Together with China Eximbank we will also promote investments and technology transfer to catalyze sustainable industrialization around the world, particularly in Africa and in East and Central Europe, in industrial energy-efficiency, renewable energy development, infrastructure development, private sector and small and medium-size enterprise (SME) development," said Li.
China Eximbank promotes international economic cooperation and trade by facilitating the export and import of Chinese mechanical and electronic products, complete sets of equipment and new- and high-tech products, and assists Chinese companies with comparative advantages in their offshore project contracting and outbound investment.
A representative of the China Eximbank participated in the second UNIDO Forum on "Partnerships to scale up investments for inclusive and sustainable industrial development" that was held last November in Vienna.
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For more information, please contact:
Ciyong
Zou
Director, UNIDO Partnerships and Results Monitoring Branch
c.zou[at]unido.org
