Japan to support UNIDO’s role in the implementation of the programme for the Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa

The Government of Japan will support the role of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in the implementation of the programme for the Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (IDDA III).

UNIDO Director General LI Yong and Japan’s Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna, Ambassador Mitsuru Kitano, met to confirm agreement on this matter, with Japan announcing that it would allocate approximately €1m to support the operationalization and implementation of the IDDA III Roadmap, by, among others, building on Africa-wide initiatives such as the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD).

The TICAD, which has been held on six occasions since it was launched by Japan in 1993, facilitates and promotes high-level policy dialogue between African leaders and Africa’s development partners on issues pertaining to economic growth, trade and investment, sustainable development, human security, peace and stability, and government. Japan’s support will also facilitate UNIDO’s convening role with the overall endeavor of rallying stakeholders and partners to join the IDDA III operationalization efforts, without which development impact cannot be achieved.

“Japan maintains its commitment to African development, as evidenced by the TICAD process. We hope this funding will help UNIDO move forward in its implementation of IDDA III, by, inter alia, creating synergy with the forthcoming TICAD VII,” said Ambassador Kitano.

UNIDO Director General LI Yong said, “The project will strengthen UNIDO’s capacity to fulfill its role entrusted by the UN General Assembly, by moving the IDDA III agenda steadily forward in order to foster inclusive and sustainable industrial development in Africa. It will benefit from fostering the links between IDDA III and the TICAD process, especially by coordinating UNIDO’s participation in TICAD VII in Yokohama in 2019.”

The United Nations resolution declaring the Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (2016-2025) recognizes the need for the continent to take urgent action to advance sustainable industrialization as a key element of furthering economic diversification and value addition, creating jobs and thus reducing poverty and contributing to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Original source: UNIDO
Published on31 August 2018