For information only - not an official document
UNIS/OUS/318
30 November 2015
Re-issued as received
VIENNA, 30 November (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) - Inclusive and sustainable industrial development lies at the core of UNIDO's mandate; it is one of the main drivers for sustainable development and will be crucial for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
"With the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UNIDO can support countries moving towards higher degrees of economic, social and environmental sustainability. This enhanced role is recognized by Member States, the broader United Nations System, the private sector and all stakeholders. Inclusive and sustainable industrial development is more relevant than ever," said LI Yong, UNIDO Director General, in his opening speech at the sixteenth session of UNIDO's General Conference, taking place this week in the Vienna International Centre (VIC) in the Austrian capital.
The week-long event focuses on sustainable industrialization for shared prosperity. Special attention will be given to the critical role of Sustainable Development Goal 9, which focuses on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation.
The opening session was attended by government officials and representatives of all UNIDO Member States, as well as Austrian President, Heinz Fischer. A highlight of the Conference will be a keynote speech delivered later in the day by Nobel Prize winner in economics, Joseph Stiglitz.
Conference participants agreed that UNIDO has a central role to play in implementing the 2030 Agenda. The thematic priorities of UNIDO fully reflect the three inter-related dimensions of sustainable development - economic, social and environmental - and equip the Organization well to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals to eradicate poverty, create jobs, combat environmental degradation and promote sustainable economic growth.
Participants further highlighted the longstanding efforts by UNIDO through its services in tackling the root causes of migration by supporting job creation.
It was also noted that the new generation of UNIDO technical cooperation projects aims to effectively trigger an industrialization process with tangible results and larger developmental impacts.
UNIDO's new Programme for Country Partnership, exemplifies UNIDO's quest for innovative, high-impact solutions to accelerate the implementation of Goal 9. After less than a year of implementation, the new approach has achieved concrete results and proved to be a successful strategy to attract investments to realize broad and sustainable industrial development.
The Programme was initiated on a pilot basis in Ethiopia and Senegal. Peru has been chosen as the next country where UNIDO's Programme for Country Partnership will be implemented.
UNIDO has also forged many new partnerships with major international private sector companies such as Heineken, DNV Business Assurance, Royal Philips, Dell International, the Volvo Group, Illy caffé, AEON Reality, and Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd, among others.
Speaking about the UN Climate Change conference in Paris, Director General Li said that UNIDO would present its "new policy direction with regard to climate resilient industrialization and an integrated and 'nexus' approach to greenhouse gas emissions and resource depletion in the context of the 2030 Development Agenda".
"The fight against climate change is one of the most important goals of the new agenda for development," said Li.
In 2016, UNIDO will mark its 50th anniversary. "Since its creation almost fifty years ago, UNIDO has always stood by developing countries with technical cooperation and policy advisory services to support them in their efforts to eradicate poverty and create wealth for their citizens," said Director General Li.
UNIDO has always recognized the diverse needs of its Member States. Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have been the priority for UNIDO's work in the development cooperation arena. "Through industry, LDCs can lift themselves out of poverty," said Li. "At the same time, as LDCs successfully develop to graduate to Middle Income Country status, UNIDO is fully engaged and committed in their continuing development efforts to eliminate, for good, the persistent and expanding pockets of poverty within their economies."
UNIDO also offers its development support to Small Island Developing States. Referring to the newest UNIDO Member State, Li said, "I am particularly happy to acknowledge the accession of the Marshall Islands to UNIDO."
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