ABU DHABI, 5 November 2019 – The Abu Dhabi Declaration was adopted today, on the third day of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization’s (UNIDO) General Conference, marking an important milestone for the Organization.

In his statement, UNIDO Director General LI Yong said, “Today, I am extremely pleased to witness another defining moment for our Organization. With the adoption of the Abu Dhabi Declaration, you not only make a strong statement in support of multilateralism and international cooperation. You also emphasize two issues of critical importance in the near future.”

“First, you clearly highlight the important role of the private sector in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Secondly, with the Abu Dhabi Declaration you draw attention to the emergence of frontier technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which raise concern due to their disruptive potential but which, more importantly, offer tremendous opportunities to advance economic growth and human well-being, and to safeguard the environment.”

The Abu Dhabi Declaration builds on the Organization’s mandate to advance inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) around the world, a mandate set out in the Lima Declaration adopted at the 15th session of the General Conference in 2013 in Peru. This was a pivotal moment for UNIDO in the era to follow the Millennium Development Goals, and also as the foundation for the development of a dedicated sustainable development goal on industry: SDG 9.

“I would like to thank the United Arab Emirates for having proposed and prepared this important text. I thank all delegations for their contributions, for their support to reach a consensus on this Declaration, and for their unwavering support to poverty eradication and climate change mitigation through inclusive and sustainable industrial development,” Director General Li concluded.

The UAE Minister of Energy and Industry, Suhail Mohamed Faraj Al Mazrouei, added: “Together with all of you, we will start a new chapter of delivery, and we will work with UNIDO, as the United Arab Emirates, for the benefit of all Member States. We would need you, especially from major industrial countries, to help us with that new chapter, where we engage with the private sector in projects that are targeting development in many of the countries, especially in Africa where we provide jobs and a future for the new generations.”

The General Conference showcases successful partnerships and other achievements with a focus on today’s most relevant topics for Member States, including gender, circular economy, youth and entrepreneurship, industry 4.0, industrial parks, and sustainable energy.

It is the Organization’s supreme policymaking organ where its Member States meet to determine guiding principles and policies as well as to approve the budget and work programme. Following sessions in Thailand in 1987, Cameroon in 1993, and Peru in 2013, this is the fourth time since becoming a Specialized Agency that the UNIDO General Conference takes place away from the Organization’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria.

Find out more about the event here.

Take a tour of the General Conference’s virtual exhibition here.

For more information, please contact:

Sayaphol Sackda

Officer in Charge

UNIDO Advocacy and Media Relations Division

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