ROME - On an official three-day mission to Italy, Gerd Müller, Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), held bilateral meetings with high-level representatives of United Nations agencies, Italian government ministries and the private sector.

On the first day, the UNIDO Director General held meetings with Qu Dongyu, Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and Ute Klamert, World Food Programme (WFP) Assistant Executive Director for Partnerships and Advocacy.

In Rome, the Director General also met representatives of Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), and Confindustria – the main association representing manufacturing and service companies in Italy.

On the third day, Müller travelled to Milan to sign a joint declaration between UNIDO and the Italian energy company, Eni. UNIDO and Eni intend to work together on areas of common interest, including youth employment, green hydrogen, and renewable energy, with a focus on industrial development in Africa.

The Director General’s first mission to Italy boosted the longstanding cooperation between UNIDO and the government of Italy, and supported the work of UNIDO’s Italian Investment and Technology Promotion Office (ITPO Italy) on mobilizing investment and technology transfer for projects in developing countries.