The French version of the article is available here. 

VIENNA, 12 August 2022 - “Food security in Africa is among the priority areas for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and it is keen to support agro-processing industry and establish agricultural value chains across the continent,” declared Director General (DG), Gerd Müller.

Speaking at the award ceremony to honor President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar as a Champion for the Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (IDDA III), DG Müller emphasized that he wants to put Africa at the centre of UNIDO’s efforts and build on the continent’s enormous potential.

The Director General lauded President Rajoelina’s efforts to support industrialization through the Madagascar Plan E­mergence which aims to provide energy and water for all, digitize and modernized agriculture as a path to sustainable growth of the country.  He said “Madagascar’s Emergence Plan can be the path for sustainable growth,” adding that the upcoming Summit on Africa’s Industrialization and Economic Diversification would present a historic opportunity for African leaders to tackle the challenges facing the continent and to build on its own potential. The AfCFTA is also a game changer in achieving the Continent’s 2063 aspirations including sustainable industrialization goals.

In his remarks, President Rajoelina expressed his appreciation for the continued cooperation with UNIDO and highlighted some of the key initiatives that his country is implementing. These include the recent launch of a sugar factory with support from UNIDO and the agro-industrial parks programme that the country wants to expand, alongside efforts to combat climate change.

The president led a delegation to UNIDO headquarters in Vienna to strengthen cooperation. A bilateral meeting with the DG and dialogues between the delegation and UNIDO’s various technical departments were held during the visit. The delegation was briefed on UNIDO’s Programme for Country Partnership (PCP), integrated agro-industrial parks, sustainable energy access, green hydrogen, among others.

The IDDA III Championship Initiative, awarded to selected African Heads of State, is aimed at leveraging high-level political leadership to champion the continent’s industrialization. Currently there are ten Heads of States who are designated IDDA III Champions.

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