Business Partnerships

Aligning business interests with the visions and objectives of UNIDO

The tenth annual report of the former Secretary-General on the work of the United Nations, recognizes the importance of collaboration between the UN system and the private sector with a view of aligning business interests with the visions and objectives of the United Nations. On the rapidly growing relationship with non-state actors, the report states: “For the first time in over 60 years of United Nations history, business and other social partners are acknowledged to further the goals and work of the Organization, like for instance through facilitating the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals”.

Generally speaking, there is an opportunity for each and every private sector entity to engage with the international community in supporting the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. For achieving this, there is a need to go beyond the scope of individual actors and to push forward forms of cooperation between public and private sectors and civil society, and thereby complementing each other's development resources and competences.

Linking its own limited resources to those of other actors, in particular private businesses, has become a matter of priority for the entire UN system. The UNIDO Business Partnership Programme draws on the expertise, know-how and resources of major business players and brings their experience to bear on the aspirations of SMEs to become competitive players as well as attractive partners for large firms. It therefore seeks to exploit the synergies between the objectives and activities of the business community and UNIDO, for the benefit of industries in developing countries and economies in transition.

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