G77 Congratulates UNIDO on Its 50th Anniversary

By an IPS Correspondent Reprint | | Print |

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 23 2016 - In a congratulatory message on its 50th anniversary, Ambassador Virachai Plasai, Permanent Representative of Thailand to the United Nations and chair of the Group of 77, singled out the achievements of the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

“Over the past 50 years, UNIDO has demonstrated its commitment and efforts in promoting sustainable industrial development and innovation, as well as mainstreaming environmentally sound technology into national productive systems of member countries through disseminating knowledge and providing advice on industrial policies and strategies, successful industrialization experiences and best practices, including the Programme for Country Partnership of the UNIDO launched in 2015,” Ambassador Plasai said in a message to UNIDO.

The Vienna-based UN agency commemorated its 50th anniversary on November 21.

He said the Organization’s outstanding works have immensely contributed to sustainable development through promotion of sustained economic growth, creation of decent jobs, enhanced productivity, trade and development, economic diversification, value addition, resource-efficient and low-carbon industrial production, as well as clean energy access for productive use.

The role of UNIDO becomes increasingly indispensable at a time when the global community has embarked on a journey towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“UNIDO’s tremendous efforts in promoting Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (ISID) is crucial to the achievement of the overarching objective of Sustainable Development, namely eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, as ISID is a part of a comprehensive strategy for the successful structural economic transformation and a key driver for the full and effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. ISID has also been included in the SDG9 and interlinked with many other development goals,” he declared.

On this very special occasion, the Chair of the Group of 77 expressed the Group’s “appreciation to the constructive engagement and continuing support of UNIDO and, while recognizing the important mandates and indispensable role of UNIDO as the key driver in supporting developing countries in achieving the goal of ISID, stand ready to working closely with UNIDO towards achieving the SDGs in 2030 and beyond.”