For information only - not an official document
UNIS/OUS/378
20 July 2017
VIENNA/NEW YORK, 19 July 2017 - The Group of Friends of Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (FOISID) stressed today at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) 2017 the need for increased political and financial support for industrialization to reduce poverty and achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
According to the Group comprised of Permanent Representatives of more than 30 countries from all regions of the world, achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure will be one of the most efficient ways to enable economic growth in developing countries and therefore requires significant political attention and investment by the international community.
Tekeda Alemu, Ambassador of Ethiopia to the United Nations, who delivered the statement on behalf of the Group of FOISID, noted that "empirical evidence has shown that countries and regions that have successfully developed their manufacturing sector have made spectacular progress in poverty reduction… In developing countries, the achievement of sustainable industrialization (SDG 9) enables consistent and inclusive economic growth more than nearly any other factor. It also significantly contributes to poverty reduction (SDG 1), ending hunger (SDG 2), creation of decent jobs and income (SDG 8), and reduction of inequalities (SDG 5 and 10), while improving health and well-being (SDG 3), increasing resource and energy efficiency (SDGs 6, 7, 11, 12) and reducing greenhouse gas and other polluting emissions, including from chemicals (SDGs 13, 14, 15)."
In this context, the unique role of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in achieving SDG 9 and in leading the Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (IDDA3) was highlighted: "UNIDO assists developing countries primarily in designing and implementing industrial policies and enhancing local productive capacities and entrepreneurship. Its technical assistance contributes to job creation, advancing economic competitiveness and enabling market access. UNIDO also plays a significant role in advancing the diffusion of environmentally sound technologies and practices in production systems and collaborating with the private and public sector to mobilize investments in an inclusive, sustainable and resilient manner."
The Group called on the HLPF to consider appropriate methods and channels to boost the membership of UNIDO and to strengthen the global political and financial support for inclusive and sustainable industrialization.
The HLPF 2017, convened under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council, ran from 10 to 19 July 2017 with the theme, "Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world". It assessed the progress made towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by reviewing the implementation of a selected set of SDGs, namely Goals 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 14 and 17.
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