For information only - not an official document

UNIS/OUS/295
6 July 2015

Re-issued as received

Addis Forum to focus on multi-stakeholder partnerships to finance inclusive and sustainable industrialization

VIENNA/ADDIS ABABA, 6 July (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) - Ways to mobilize and scale up financing for industrial infrastructure, as well as for industrial projects, ranging from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to international large-scale investments, will be on the agenda of an international forum to be held in the Ethiopian capital on 14 July.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is co-organizing the event on the margins of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, together with the Governments of Ethiopia and Senegal, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa(UNECA).

Inclusive and sustainable industrialization is likely to play a significant role in the post-2015 development agenda, with the first official 'zero draft' of the sustainable development goals including Goal number 9 which aims to "build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation".

Participants at the Forum will examine multi-stakeholder partnerships, including UNIDO's Programme for Country Partnership, which is currently being implemented in Ethiopia and Senegal. Ethiopia's progress in developing industrial parks will be highlighted, and a field visit will be organized to two established industrial parks, where light manufacturing factories have recently been established as a result of foreign direct investment.

High-level participants will include Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of Ethiopia; Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General; LI Yong, UNIDO Director General; Carlos Lopes, Executive Secretary, UN Economic Commission for Africa; Ambroise Fayolle, Vice-President, European Investment Bank; Justin Yifu Lin, Honorary Dean, National School of Development, Beijing University; Jeffrey Sachs, Director, The Earth Institute, Columbia University; and Andrea Illy, Chief Executive Officer, Illy Café.

Journalists are invited to cover this special event, which will open at 10am, on Tuesday, 14 July, in the Africa Hall at the headquarters of the UNECA, in Addis Ababa.

Find out more here http://www.unido.org/en/news-centre/events/isid-forum/third-isid-fourm.html

* *** *

For more information, please contact:

Tajudeen Bello
Communications Officer
Tel: +43-1-26026-3447
Email: T.Belo[at]unido.org