UNIDO Latest News

Director-General Yumkella receives Russian Foreign Ministry decoration for contribution to international cooperation

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:44:00 +0200

VIENNA, 2 July 2009 – UNIDO Director-General, Kandeh K. Yumkella, received today a Russian Foreign Ministry decoration “For [his] Contribution to International Cooperation”, as well as congratulations on his re-election for a second term in office from Minister Sergey Lavrov. Other recipients of this prestigious award include Mohamed ElBaradei, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

“Serving all these years at this high and responsible post you have proven yourself to be a person completely devoted to the aims of improving and building up the efficiency of the Organization’s activities for the well-being of all Member States, and especially of the least developed ones that are in need of UNIDO’s qualified technical assistance,” wrote Minister Lavrov in a letter to the Director-General.

“I am pleased to note that even at the time of a global financial and economic crisis UNIDO under your guidance is not only keeping its stability and abilities, but is even building up organizational, operative and expert potential thus gaining a higher proven authority among UN-family organizations.”

Noting UNIDO’s efforts to broaden cooperation with Russia, Minister Lavrov said: “The Russian Federation means to play from now on an active and constructive role in UNIDO’s activities thus contributing to the gradual increase of the Organization’s services highly qualified and significant in volume in the field of industrial development.”

Director-General Yumkella was recommended for a second term in office during the thirty-sixth session of UNIDO’s Industrial Development Board on 23 June. He will be nominated for confirmation by the Organization’s General Conference at its thirteenth session scheduled to take place in Vienna in December. The Board comprises 53 countries out of the 173 UNIDO Member States.

Workshop in Ethiopia flags potential of geothermal energy in countries of East African Rift Valley

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:36:00 +0200

ADDIS-ABABA, 10 June 2009 – The technological and environmental aspects of exploration and exploitation of geothermal resources in the countries of the East African Rift Valley, as well as the political, economic, financial and social implications were the focus of a workshop that ended in Addis-Ababa today.

The three-day event was organized by UNIDO’s International Centre for Science and High Technology (ICS), in collaboration with the Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR of Germany). The meeting was also sponsored by the African Union, the Ethiopian Government, and the International Geothermal Association (IGA).

It brought together government officials from ten East African countries: Burundi, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia, as well as the Commissioner for Energy of the African Union, experts from Europe, Latin America and Asia, the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the European Commission. The President of Ethiopia, Girma Wolde-Giorgis, attended the opening session.

Participants agreed that countries of the East African Rift region share a great geothermal potential, largely untapped. Geothermal energy is a clean, stable and sustainable resource that is likely to emerge as one of the main energy alternatives.

Energy ministers and high-level representatives from the countries of the East African Rift system signed the Declaration on Geothermal Energy. It includes a set of strategic guidelines, and acknowledges the role of geothermal energy as a mainstream option for future energy challenges. It also recommends to the African Union Commission to urgently launch a joint regional programme on geothermal development.

The Declaration suggests establishing a Geothermal Energy Development Agency, as well as a permanent regional forum among the countries of the East African Rift system. It also mandates the African Union Commission to promote - in co-operation with ICS-UNIDO - a strategic, collective, regional project on geothermal energy development to be submitted for funding to the European Commission, and implemented, when approved, by UNIDO.

The project would include the creation of a database of all physical and human resources available in the region, and other data essential for the development of geothermal energy; scientific/technological advanced training courses on the state-of-the-art exploration and exploitation methods, as well as activities aimed at raising public awareness on the potential of this inexhaustible source of clean energy.

The International Centre for Science and High Technology is based in Trieste, and funded by the Italian Government. It is a research arm of UNIDO.

To find out more about ICS, visit www.ics.trieste.it

UNIDO Director-General, Brazil Ambassador discuss possible cooperation to help developing countries in Africa

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:19:00 +0200

VIENNA, 26 June 2009 – Cooperation in the area of energy, particularly bio-energy, was the focus of discussions between UNIDO Director-General, Kandeh K. Yumkella, and Ambassador André Amado, Under-Secretary General for Energy and High Technology, Brazilian Foreign Ministry, during the international energy conference in Vienna this week.

Ambassador Amado explained the developments that have taken place in Brazil in this regard and said Brazil was ready to share its knowledge with other developing countries, especially in Africa. Brazil is already cooperating on bio-energy with Ethiopia, with the support of the European Union, and with Senegal and Guinea Bissau, with support of the United States.

The Director-General and Ambassador Amado agreed to explore the possibility of expanding cooperation through UNIDO in Africa. Feasibility studies, including value chain analysis, could launch this process. Issues relating to technology transfer, bio-energy and agribusiness would also be explored, targeting priority commodities such as sugar, palm oil, cassava and jatropha.

Director-General Yumkella said he was exploring the possibility of opening an office in Brazil with the aim of promoting South-South cooperation. His visit to Brazil later this year would be an opportunity for further and more in-depth discussions.

Russia supports UNIDO projects in Eurasian Economic Community and Sierra Leone

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:12:00 +0200

VIENNA, 26 June 2009 – UNIDO will receive a special purpose contribution worth USD 2.6 million per annum for the next three years from the Russian Federation for environmental and technology promotion projects in the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) and in Sierra Leone.

The agreement was signed this week by UNIDO Director-General, Kandeh K. Yumkella, and the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the International Organizations in Vienna, Ambassador Alexander Zmeyevskiy.

The projects include the establishment of a network of investment and technology promotion offices in EurAsEC, comprised of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

This will provide business communities in these countries with more opportunities to invest in bankable industrial projects, enable them to modernize local industry, as well as solve environmental problems by applying new technologies and innovations. The projects will increase technology and investment flows into the industrial sector, help create new technology-based enterprises, and increase employment, income and living standards.

One major project will focus on establishing a sub-regional recycling centre in Russia to demonstrate advanced environment-friendly technologies for recycling of industrial waste.

Another core project will identify, evaluate and prioritize pollution “hot-spots” in the basins of trans-border reservoirs in several regions of the Russian Federation and cross-boundary water basins of Eurasia, and transfer environmentally sound technologies. It would also help identify industries that are most water pollutant and recommend policy measures and technological solutions for pollution prevention and management.

A separate project will focus on technical capacity-building and application of cost-effective technologies in fishing and seafood processing, as well as training programmes in Sierra Leone. The Maritime State University of Vladivostok has the technical capacity to carry out advanced training in fishing and seafood processing. The proposed new technologies will decrease the cost of final products, take into consideration concerns related to securing the diversity and reproduction of bio-resources, and reduce pollution of the environment.

George Assaf
UNIDO Spokesperson
+43 1 26026 3849
g.assaf@unido.org

www.unido.org

UNIDO, ISO reinforce partnership for sustainable development

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:15:00 +0200

VIENNA, 24 June 2009 – The Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Kandeh K. Yumkella, and the Secretary General of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Rob Steele, signed a memorandum of understanding in Vienna yesterday.

UNIDO and ISO have a long and fruitful history of cooperation in promoting sustainable industrial development enabling developing countries to actively take part in the development and adoption of international standards, as well as helping their enterprises and institutions to apply and comply with standards and conformity assessment procedures. Their joint efforts in the field of standards have had a strong impact on increasing quality, productivity and safety, on fostering trade, productive and business linkages, as well as protecting consumers and the environment.

The new agreement is a response to the increasingly important role that standards play as policy mechanism and market tool for trade and sustainable development, including climate change mitigation. It also reflects the emerging new areas of collaboration in which shared objectives, functions and activities of the two organizations have become complementary.

The Secretary General of ISO delivered a keynote speech at the International Energy Conference in Vienna yesterday.

For more information, please contact:

George Assaf
UNIDO Spokesperson
+43 1 26026 3849
g.assaf@unido.org

www.unido.org

Kandeh K. Yumkella to serve second term as Director-General of UNIDO

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:20:00 +0200

VIENNA, 23 June 2009 - Kandeh K. Yumkella of Sierra Leone was today recommended for a second term in office as the Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

The recommendation was made during the thirty-sixth session of UNIDO’s Industrial Development Board which comprises 53 countries out of the 173 Member States. The Board, one of three policy making organs, reviews the implementation of the Organization’s work programme and the budget and makes recommendations to the General Conference on policy matters, including the appointment of the Director-General.

Yumkella, the first Director-General from Sub-Saharan Africa, will be nominated for confirmation by the Organization’s General Conference at its thirteenth session scheduled to take place in Vienna in December.

Member States thanked Kandeh K. Yumkella for reinvigorating and refocusing the work of the Organization over the last four years adding that he needed a second term in office to fully implement his vision and leadership.

“UNIDO faced severe financial problems in the late 1990s and at a certain point its existence was in question, but now we are back on a fast track, doing what we do best: working hard across the globe to lift countries out of poverty through industrial development,” said Yumkella.

“The latest financial crisis has shown that we can’t just rely on markets alone. Many countries are now revisiting the industrial policy debate, reviewing the role of the State and looking at rebalancing their economies. UNIDO can’t afford to be a backbencher. We have very relevant ideas we can provide to Member States. We must be a vital part of the intellectual debate and offer strategic advice on economic development and growth.”

“For a UN agency to add value it must move upstream. UNIDO is not just a technical cooperation agency. We must enhance our normative function and the powerful potential of our convening role,” said the Director-General.

UNIDO has been supporting UN efforts to “seal the deal” in Copenhagen in December on a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol. “UNIDO promotes renewable energy, cleaner technologies and green industry which can generate new jobs. Energy is the other side of the coin of climate change, and central to manufacturing,” said Yumkella. Referring to the words of the Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Rajendra Pachauri, he said that “energy should become a Millennium Development Goal”.

On 17 June, Yumkella was appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to lead a new high-level advisory group consisting of business leaders and experts who will advise on energy and climate change challenges. Yumkella also chairs the inter-agency mechanism known as UN-Energy.

George Assaf
UNIDO Spokesperson
+43 1 26026 3849
g.assaf@unido.org

www.unido.org

Vienna Energy Conference calls for shift towards low-carbon green industries

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:56:00 +0200

VIENNA, 22 June 2009 – Ways to secure sustainable policies and investments to allow a shift towards a low-carbon “green economy” driven by “green industry” are the focus of the Vienna Energy Conference that opened in the Austrian capital today.

The three-day event, “Towards an Integrated Energy Agenda Beyond 2020”, was organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Government of Austria, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and the Global Forum on Sustainable Energy. It brings together more than 500 government officials, energy and economics experts, and civil society representatives from around the world.

“The current global financial and economic crisis must be used to our advantage to bring about a green energy revolution. This conference was designed to provide a solid framework that would show the way towards a low-carbon global ‘green economy’ powered by ‘green industry’. Promoting domestic and international policies that encourage green investment in the next decade should be a major priority for a climate deal to be concluded in Copenhagen,” said UNIDO Director-General, Kandeh K. Yumkella.

He was referring to the United Nations climate change conference taking place in Copenhagen in December where countries are expected to “seal the deal” on a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions targets.

Rajendra Pachauri of India, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore, said that energy remained the “missing Millennium Development Goal”. “Providing an adequate supply of energy to the poor should be a key priority. Without it there can be no talk about eliminating poverty in the world,” added Pachauri.

Austrian Foreign Minister, Michael Spindelegger, reminded that the conference marked the tenth anniversary of the Global Forum on Sustainable Energy, which facilitates dialogue between key players and encourages public-private cooperation in the field of sustainable energy.

“Vienna has become a dynamic hub for international efforts to promote peace, security and sustainable energy,” added Spindelegger. “This conference reflects the strong commitment of Vienna based organisations to make the city of Vienna an international centre of excellence in bringing forward the sustainable energy agenda.”

He also underlined the fact that Austrian science, technology institutions and companies are known to be at the leading edge of renewable energies and energy efficiency. The Austrian Development Cooperation has been supporting renewable energy projects in developing countries for many years.

IIASA will present the highlights of the Global Energy Assessment (GEA), the most comprehensive and integrated analysis of global energy challenges ever undertaken. The GEA addresses energy access, climate change, security and investment issues simultaneously.

“We are facing a convergence of challenges that require a fundamental transformation of energy systems, 'business-as- usual’ solutions are not an option,” said IIASA Director, Detlof von Winterfeldt. “The magnitude, pace, and scale of the impact of climate change is greater than predicted even as recently as a couple of years ago – the need to respond to this change is urgent.”

He said it was untenable that today 2.4 billion people were without access to modern energy services. GEA early findings suggest that the cost of providing modern energy services for all is not only achievable but affordable in the medium term, if the political will exists.

“Current investment in energy is in the order of $US350billion per annum; over $US100billion of this investment is in renewable energy. Whilst investment has been steadily increasing, the reality is that a three-fold increase is needed. We have an opportunity in the several stimulus packages introduced by many countries in response to the global financial and economic crisis,”
added von Winterfeldt.

Participants will also discuss the role of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which will advise industrialized and developing countries on how to reduce their dependency on fossil fuels by promoting the rapid adoption of renewable energy worldwide.

Conference's website
Photo Gallery

For further information, please contact:

George Assaf, UNIDO Spokesperson
G.Assaf@unido.org tel. +43 1 26026 3849

Leane Regan, IIASA Communications Department
regan@iiasa.ac.at mobile +43 6644 430 368

Gertraud Findl, Austrian Development Agency
Gertraud.Findl@ada.gv.at tel. +43 1 90 3 99 2412

Ban launches UN advisory group on energy and climate change

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:18:00 +0200

UNITED NATIONS, 17 June 2009 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today launched a new group consisting of business leaders and experts who will advise him on energy and climate change challenges, particularly in identifying key issues in the run-up to the major United Nations conference to be held in Copenhagen in December.

The high-level Energy and Climate Change Advisory Group held its first meeting today at UN Headquarters under the chairmanship of Kandeh K. Yumkella, Director-General of the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and head of the inter-agency mechanism known as UN-Energy.

The Group will help the UN prepare for Copenhagen, especially regarding the role that energy plays in climate change, and monitor implementation of what is decided at the conference, Mr. Yumkella told a news conference in New York.

Countries will meet in December to ‘seal the deal’ on a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions targets. The first phase of the 1997 Protocol expires at the end of 2012.

He said that he had seen reports that energy efficiency alone could reduce global polluting emissions 30 to 40 per cent, “but it is not happening.”

The Group will consider ways to comprehensively address climate change and boost energy efficiency and clean production, with a focus on developing countries.

Yumkella said it is important to focus on developing countries because they not only required help in tackling climate change, but also needed access to energy options. Many parts of the developing world still burned charcoal, wood and other biomass, which led to ecological damage and is a primary cause of pulmonary diseases.

Among those invited to participate in the group are top executives from companies such as Tata (India), Suntech Holdings (China), Edison International (United States), the New Energy and Technology Development Organization (Japan), and ESKOM Holdings (South Africa), as well as political figures, including former Costa Rican President Jose Figueres, and UN officials.

UNIDO
George Assaf
+43 1 26026 3849
g.assaf@unido.org

www.unido.org

Vienna Energy Conference

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:27:00 +0200

mms://a880.l892546879.c8925.g.lm.akamaistream.net/D/880/8925/v0001/reflector:46879VIENNA, 17 June 2009 - Some 500 policymakers, private sector and civil society representatives from developing and industrialized countries will meet in Vienna on 22 June to discuss energy issues in the context of the global financial and economic crisis.

The three-day event is organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Government of Austria, and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and the Global Forum on Sustainable Energy.

The conference will identify potential opportunities the current crisis offers, address ways to secure sustainable policies and investments to allow a shift towards a low-carbon “green economy” with a “green industry”, and contribute to the global climate policy – the focus of the United Nations climate change conference in Copenhagen in December.

The highlights of the Global Energy Assessment, an analysis of the global energy challenges of the 21^st century, will be presented at the conference.

Participants will also discuss the role of the new International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Key speeches will be delivered by Kandeh K. Yumkella, UNIDO Director-General; Rajendra Pachauri, TERI Director General and the Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; Brigitte Öppinger-Walchshofer, Austrian Development Agency, Managing Director; and Detlof von Winterfeldt, IIASA Director.

Journalists are invited to the opening session at 9.30, on Monday, 22 June, at the Hofburg’s Redoutensaal, to be followed by a news conference at 10.30.

All other sessions of the conference will also be open to the media.

Please register for the conference and see the full programme at: www.viennaenergyconference.org

For further information, please contact:

George Assaf, UNIDO Spokesperson
g.assaf@unido.org tel. +43 1 26026 3849

Mikhail Evstafyev, UNIDO Advocacy and media specialist
m.evstafyev@unido.org mobile 650-391-5278

UNIDO, HP launch new training centres in Africa and Middle East to expand GET-IT education programme

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:52:00 +0200

VIENNA, 16 June 2009 – The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the technology company HP announced today the opening of 20 additional training centres in Africa and the Middle East to expand HP’s youth entrepreneurship and IT education programme.

The new centres, part of the HP Graduate Entrepreneurship Training through IT programme (GET-IT), will operate in Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. The total number of GET-IT centres will now reach 33 in ten countries in Africa and the Middle East.

The GET-IT programme provides training to unemployed youth and graduates between the ages of 16 and 25, and helps potential entrepreneurs acquire IT skills with the aim of becoming better placed to create and run their own businesses. GET-IT courses teach practical IT solutions for daily business challenges in areas such as finance, management, marketing and technology management.

“The UNIDO-HP partnership aims at addressing the high level of unemployment among young people in developing countries by integrating them into the labour market through successful entrepreneurship,” said Kandeh K. Yumkella, UNIDO Director-General.

“HP and UNIDO have been working together to provide IT technology and training to promote innovative uses of information and communication technologies to support entrepreneurship, help encourage economic development and create new business opportunities. It is essential to keep expanding this initiative to reach as many communities as possible and to continue assisting countries in Africa and the Middle East in educating their young generation in IT.”

Gabriele Zedlmayer, vice president of Corporate Marketing and Global Citizenship, HP Europe, Middle East and Africa, added: “HP believes that entrepreneurship is vital for the economy and that young people can play a major role in creating their own businesses and their own jobs. The GET-IT training courses combine entrepreneurship education with practical hands-on experience in using IT to enhance young people’s professional skills.”

Through its extensive field office network in Africa and the Middle East, UNIDO identifies non-profit organizations who are eligible to become GET-IT partners and monitors the activities of these partners to ensure the sustainability of the GET-IT programme.

GET-IT is part of HP’s social investment strategy aimed at innovating teaching and learning to help young entrepreneurs in achieving success in their future careers. The programme provides IT equipment, a cash donation, training as well as training of trainers for the respective local partner organizations.

HP and its partners have now rolled out the GET-IT programme in nearly 100 centres in 30 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, reaching out to more than 43,000 people through online and offline training courses. HP and its partners plan to grow GET-IT further to reach over 500,000 young people by 2010.

Those who do not live close to a GET-IT training centre will be able to access some of the courses online. HP and its partner MEA-I have created a web portal – www.get-it-city.net – where any young entrepreneur in Europe, the Middle East and Africa can log on for training and advice.

To maximize the impact of their youth entrepreneurship programmes, UNIDO and HP will establish linkages between GET-IT and UNIDO’s Entrepreneurship Curriculum Programme and the Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Programme. These new linkages will help to increase the scope of the GET-IT programme.

The following institutions are benefiting from the UNIDO – HP partnership in 2009:

·    Institut de Formation Professionnelle (IFP), Algiers, Algeria

·    Institut National Spécialisé de Formation Professionnelle (INSFP), Algiers, Algeria

·    Nahdet El Mahrousa, Cairo, Egypt

·    The Suzanne Mubarak Women’s International Peace Movement, Cairo, Egypt

·    Business Enterprise Support Tools Foundation, Giza, Egypt

·    General Federation of NGOs and Foundations (GFNF), Cairo, Egypt

·    Youth Agenda Consortium (YAC), Eldoret, Kenya

·    Tears Group Kenya, Nakuru, Kenya

·    ALTAAWON Trust, Nairobi, Kenya

·    PlaNet Finance, Casablanca, Morocco

·    Africa Leadership Forum, Ota, Nigeria

·    University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria

·    Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF), Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, Saudi Arabia

·    School Leavers Opportunity Training (SLOT), Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

·    Umsobomvu Youth Fund, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

·    Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

·    Dubai Women's College, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

·    Entrepreneur Business Village, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

For more information on the HP GET-IT Programme, please visit www.graduate-training-through-it.net/

UNIDO
George Assaf
+43 1 26026 3849
g.assaf& # 0 6 4;unido.org

www.unido.org

HP
Anette Nachbar
+41 (58) 444 5523
anette.nachbar@hp.com

www.hp.com

UNIDO Director-General urges continued support for developing countries to make their industries cleaner

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:29:00 +0200

VIENNA, 4 June 2009 - UNIDO Director-General, Kandeh K. Yumkella, said today that the financial and economic turmoil could lead to a new green industrial revolution, but cautioned that developing countries must not lose out.

“We must make sure that the crisis is used to launch a new green industrial revolution. But it has to be a truly global one. Developing countries and poor communities, already the most afflicted by climate change, cannot afford to lose out,” said Yumkella.

“They will need continued support to make their industries cleaner, to enhance their technological know-how, and to build policy toward new green industries and renewable forms of energy for productive purposes.”

The Director-General made his comments to mark the World Environment Day, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972, and observed on 5 June. This year’s theme is “your planet needs you! UNite to combat climate change”.

“I’m certain - a new industrial revolution is just around the corner, and this time it will be green. Industry, long regarded as the main source of emissions that cause climate change, should be in the driving seat moving the world towards a sustainable future. Cleaner production and renewable energy - as well as resource- and energy-efficient technologies - are set to change forever the relationship we have with our global commons,” added Yumkella.

He said that action was needed “at the individual level to reduce, reuse and recycle; at the corporate level to invest in energy efficient and low-carbon production; and at the governmental level to “Seal the Deal” at the UN summit on climate change in Copenhagen in December”.

UNIDO will focus on these issues in a range of major international conferences, including one on Energy that will take place in Vienna from 22 to 24 June, and on Green Industry in Asia to be held in Manila from 9 to 11 September.

Industrial Development Report 2009 presented in Tokyo

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:03:00 +0200

TOKYO, 14 April 2009 - UNIDO organized a symposium today to introduce its flagship publication - the Industrial Development Report 2009 - to a selected Japanese audience.

Yoshiteru Uramoto, UNIDO Deputy Director-General, spoke at the event. The symposium also featured presentations by the co-author of the report, Dr. John Page, who focused on the conceptual framework and policy implications of the report. Jebamalai Vinanchiarachi, who led the UNIDO in-house team of experts from the preparation to the finalization phase, explained the key findings of the report and their relevance to UNIDO technical cooperation.

The event provided an opportunity for Japanese development experts to become more familiar with the activities of UNIDO and contemplate their relevance to the current global economic conditions.

The event was organized by the UNIDO Investment and Technology Promotion Office in Tokyo, the United Nations University, the Institute of Developing Economies and Japan International Cooperation Agency, with the support of the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan.

Japanese Government supports UNIDO and Ebonyi State in Nigeria

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:38:00 +0200

ABUJA, 26 March 2009 – The UNIDO Country Program for Nigeria, under the theme of Poverty Reduction through Production Activities, was flagged off on Monday, 23 March, with the provision of a grant from the Japanese government.

The project, which is also under the Agro-Industries, Value Addition and One Village Product (OVOP) component, is to improve the production of salt and enhance the capacity of women in Uburu, Okposi and Idembia Ezza salt producing communities of the Eboonyi state in Nigeria.

The project is aimed at allowing the women living in the identified communities to use their skills in manufacturing salt, while UNIDO, the Ebonyi State government and the private sector, would assist in developing the products and exploring the markets.

The grant is given under the Japanese Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP). The implementing partner is the Ebonyi State Salt Manufacturing Cooperative Union.

Present at the signing ceremony were the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Chief Achike Udenwa, the Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Mr. Toshitsugu Uesawa, the President of the Ebonyi State Salt Manufacturing Cooperative Union, Mrs. Anthonia Agwu, the Commissioner for Grants and Donor Agencies, Elder Fred Odogu and the UNIDO Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Masayoshi Matsushita.

The Ambassador of Japan, Uesawa said the purpose of the grant was to provide modern salt production technology and reduce the drudgery involved in using traditional method for salt production.He said that the project was expected to generate income and improve the standards of living of the populace, especially women in the communities.

The Minister, Chief Udenwa, commended the involvement of “a foreign country in the development of the rural areas in Nigeria,” adding that signing of the grant would actually uplift the status of women in the state.

UNIDO’s rationale for the OVOP salt processing project for the three communities around the salt lake is to adopt the cluster approach to enterprises as the women have long been known for salt production.

The project will not only add value to salt production in these communities, but will also provide a large market for salt in Nigeria and the West African sub- region.

UNIDO is currently partnering with Ebonyi State Government in seven projects focusing on agro-industries, clean energy and environment-related projects, as well as on the ICT Center of Excellence.

UNIDO's support for women in Mali

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:16:00 +0200

PARIS, 3 - 10 October 2008 - the cosmetic fair "Beyond Beauty" was organized with participants from Mali under the assistance and sponsorship of UNIDO through ITPO Paris. Its main objective is to promote the shea chain in Mali. The National Shea Project is a joint partnership initiative between the government of Mali and UNIDO through the Ministry of Women, Childhood and Family since 2004 under the IPII 2004-2008.

Its major activities include:

The reinforcement of the technical and organizational capacities of women producers in terms of training and quality improvement;

The equipment of small production units: six units being functional of which three are equipped by UNIDO plus four additional ones in process.

The organisation and structuring of the procurement and commercial chains through: women cooperatives and cooperation.

More than 100 visitors were recorded and working sessions were organized with some of them including resource persons or companies.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Bafotigui Sako
Tel. : +223 20 70 00 07/66 71 09
e-mail

Lebanon's support for Rwandan farmers

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:58:00 +0200

According to the news source packagingnews.co.uk, the significance of packaging to international economic development has been highlighted after a top Lebanese industrialist remarked that better packs would positively contribute to his country's exports.

The LibanPack project was established last November by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and an organisation called "Market Access and Compliance for Lebanese Exports", with financial support of $ 2.2m.

The aim of the project is to increase awareness among the country's business community regarding the importance of packaging through workshops, training and study tours. There are also plans to launch an extensive packaging drive across Africa this year. BABA - "Buy African, Build Africa" - is being launched by Leicester's Clifton Packaging, and receives support from many of the most powerful politicians and economic players in the continent's economy.

For original press release, please click here

UNIDO Director-General visits Washington D.C.

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 11:58:00 +0200

WASHINGTON D. C., 31 March 2009 - UNIDO Director-General, Kandeh K. Yumkella, met African Union (AU) Ambassador to the United States, Amina S. Ali, in Washington today to discuss the work of the Organization and other topics.

Yumkella said that during his next visit he would provide a briefing on the work of UNIDO for African Ambassadors accredited to the United States. He also thanked Ambassador Ali for her offer to host the briefing at the AU Mission.

The Director-General is in Washington to deliver a key note speech at the World Bank Energy Week, a gathering of policy-makers and practitioners engaged in the strategic issues of energy and development. The event takes place from March 31 to April 2.

Farms to Markets Newsletter

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:14:00 +0200

The 2008 food crisis made it very clear that developing countries are extremely vulnerable to fluctuations in food prices and supplies. As such, the international community called for the deployment of urgent measures to help farmers and food producers increase their productivity and integrate local, regional and international markets.

In line with its policy of enabling developing countries to help themselves, UNIDO swiftly responded and stepped up its efforts to strengthen agribusiness value chains, expand their food supplies and facilitate their access to markets, technology and investment.

In its first International Conference on Sharing Innovative Agribusiness Solutions, UNIDO brought together over 400 participants from more than 65 countries to share innovative solutions and best practices. At the same time, interested businesses, policy-makers, financial institutions and donors discussed concrete joint activities and partnership opportunities.

To build on its success and to sustain its innovative knowledge sharing concept, the Conference recommended establishing mechanisms for the regular dissemination of relevant information on agribusiness solutions; thus the publication of this newsletter.

As a direct result of the continuous identification process of agribusiness ideas, best practices and solutions, the newsletter will provide access to qualified information, including business intelligence, technological updates and technical cooperation opportunities.

For more information please contact:
Mr. Gerardo Patacconi - Unit Chief, Productivity, Quality and Enterprise Upgrading Unit, Trade Capacity Building Branch, UNIDO

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UNIDO's Annual Report 2008 - a snapshot of an Organization in Motion

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:35:00 +0200

UNIDO's dedicated focus on the reduction of poverty

Annual Report 2008

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:17:00 +0200

Seldom has the world faced so many global threats and challenges of the type that arose in 2008. The crises that emerged during the year, stemming from extreme volatilities in the global fuel, food and financial markets, have sharpened the focus on the economic and social vulnerability of people in all nations, but of those in the poorest countries in particular. To these, the daunting challenge of climate change must be added. At a time when, according to the United Nations Millenium Goals Report 2008, we finally observed an emerging downward trend in poverty around the world, this situation poses the greatest challenge to our common welfare for some decades.

UNIDO has not been standing still in the face of these new threats. Our response has been to make every effort to encourage the growth of industry in the fight against poverty. The core of UNIDO's mandate, which is to advance sustainable industrial development and international industrial cooperation, has now assumed an even greater urgency than heretofore.

The Annual Report 2008 seeks to provide the reader with a snapshot of an Organization in motion. It describes a number of innovations undertaken over the past year to ensure that UNIDO is at the forefront of streamlined business practices and results-based management (RBM), including the adoption of the new medium-term programme framework (MTPF) 2010-2013, the first such document to be based entirely on RBM principles.

Moreover, I believe it shows an Organization which is actively reducing poverty, which is dismantling real barriers to trade, which is putting an end to harmful industrial emissions and building up access to energy. The figures also bear this out. Technical cooperation delivery achieved in 2008 amounted to $124 million, a substantial increase on the figure of $117 million in the previous year. UNIDO's excellent funds mobilization performance was maintained, with a total of $155 million reached. The sum available for future implementation increased to $312 million, which is the highest level recorded in UNIDO's history.

The present Report follows UNIDO's dedicated thematic focus, illustrating clearly how our activities are successfully targeting outcomes that enhance industrial policy and build up institutions in the public and private spheres. The Report also highlights how UNIDO tailors its services according to country and regional needs.

I trust that you will find in this Report an Organization robust in knowledge and experience, flexible and solution-oriented in methodology and delivery, and ready to work in partnership to meet the challenges ahead.

Interview with the UNIDO Representative, Mr. Khaled El Mekwad

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:05:00 +0100

The Director-General was accompanied by Messrs. Mohamed El Gallaf, Chief, Arab Programme at UNIDO Vienna, Khaled El Mekwad, UNIDO Representative, Head of Regional Office, Dr. Hashim Hussein, Head of Investment and Technology Promotion Office in UNIDO Bahrain, and Mr. Gerardo Patacconi, Chief, Productivity, Quality & enterprise Upgrading Unit in UNIDO, Vienna.

During his visit, the UNIDO Director-General met with H.E. the President of the Republic, H.E. the Head of Parliament, H.E. the Prime Minister, Ministers concerned with UNIDO technical assistance programme and activities in Lebanon and representatives from the private sector including the Association of Lebanese Industrialists and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture, in order to strengthen partnership and cooperation between the Republic of Lebanon and UNIDO.

Before his departure, Dr. Yumkella has signed with the Minister of Industry, H.E. Dr. Ghazi Zeaiter, a Memorandum of Understanding related to UNIDO Cooperation and Technical Assistance for the Republic of Lebanon, which will serve as a framework for UNIDO activities in the country according to Government priorities and will lay grounds for future steps to be undertaken in order to optimize the already excellent existing relations between UNIDO and the Government of Lebanon.

Mr. Khaled El Mekwad arrived to Beirut on July 10th, 2008, and assumed his duties as UNIDO Representative, Head of Regional Office, residing in Lebanon and also covering UNIDO Programme activities in Jordan and Syria.