For information only - not an official document

UNIS/MA/190
3 November 2017

Reissued as received

Media Advisory

The auto industry and the circular economy focus of international conference in Slovakia

VIENNA/BRATISLAVA, 3 November (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) - The auto industry's shift towards a circular economy will be on the agenda of an international conference that opens in the capital of Slovakia on Monday.

The two-day event, the first of its kind on the circular economy in the automotive industry, is being organized by the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic in cooperation with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and supported by the embassies of The Netherlands and Norway to Slovakia.

Participants will include experts from the automotive supply chain and industry organizations from the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, as well as representatives of the European Union, the OECD, the World Economic Forum, and UNIDO.

Speakers will include László Sólymos, the Minister of Environment of Slovakia; Peter Žiga, the Minister of Economy of Slovakia; Stephan Sicars, Director of UNIDO's Department of Environment; and Anthony Cox, Acting Director for the Environment Directorate at OECD. The

Ambassador of The Netherlands, Henk Cor van der Kwast, and  the Ambassador of Norway, Inga Magistad, will also attend.

Journalists are invited to a news conference at 12:00 on Monday, 6 November, at the Sheraton Hotel on Pribinova 12, Bratislava, to be followed by the opening and all sessions starting at 13:00.

Conference website: http://www.t2ge.eu/content/conference

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For further information, please contact:

Nilgün Tas

Chief, UNIDO Industrial Resource Efficiency Division

Email:  n.tas[at]unido.org

Communication Unit

Slovak Ministry of Environment

Email:  circular.automotive[at]enviro.gov.sk