The Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) signed a Country Programme (2018-2020) at the Economic Relations Division (ERD).
The Country Programme (CP) will enhance UNIDO’s support to the Government in the design, development, and implementation of a roadmap towards inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID). Furthermore, the CP is fully aligned with the priorities set forth in the Government’s Seventh Five-Year Plan, its 2021 Vision and the 2016 National Industrial Policy as well as the 2017-2020 UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF).
Speaking at the signing, Zaki Zaman, UNIDO Country Representative for Bangladesh, said: “UNIDO will work in three main modules: improvement of provision of services to businesses; development and innovation of high-impact sectors and value chains (such as leather and agro-processing); and diversification of environmental goods and services sector, also to aid the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements”.
ERD Secretary Kazi Shofiqul Azam said: “ISID is important for Bangladesh; the government expects that the implementation of the first-ever UNIDO CP will result in greater benefits for the country”.
The CP will accelerate industrial development in a balanced manner, synergizing between the three dimensions of sustainable development (economic, social and environmental). In addition, the CP will provide a framework for the planning, implementation, and monitoring of UNIDO’s technical cooperation services in Bangladesh, in partnership with the Government, industry and financial sectors, other non-governmental organizations and UN sister agencies.
UN Wing Additional Secretary Dr. Kazi Anowarul Hoque said: “the CP will help Bangladesh in achieving the SDGs, and particularly Goal 9”.
Original source: UNIDO
Published on 14 June 2018
