UNIDO and the European Union celebrate the European Year of Youth with pictures and stories of beneficiaries from UNIDO-EU projects
15 June 2022
BRUSSELS, 14 June 2022 – Within the framework of the 2022 European Year of Youth, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the European Union (EU) launched the photography exhibition titled “Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development: a boost to youth employment” in the vicinity of the European Parliament in Brussels.
“The exhibition showcases pictures and stories of projects implemented by UNIDO in partnership with the EU throughout the world, with an emphasis on empowering youth as actors of change”, said Fatou Haidara, UNIDO Managing Director and Special Representative for Africa. “It illustrates how inclusive and sustainable industrial development contributes to success stories of young individuals and communities through job creation, training opportunities, and economic empowerment”.
All speakers, including the European Commission’s Cécile Billaux, Head of Unit of Micro-economic Analysis, Investment Climate, Private Sector, Trade and Employment at the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), and Mathieu Bousquet, Acting Director of Thematic Support, Coordination of Policy and Financial Instruments at the Directorate-General European Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), emphasized the power of international partnerships to change people’s lives.
High-level guests included Members of the European Parliament Markus Ferber and Malte Gallée as well as representatives from partner countries, from H.E. Ambassador of Uganda Mirjam Blaak Sow, H.E. Ambassador of the Philippines Eduardo José A. de Vega, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Ethiopia Fortuna Dibaco Cizare, to Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Ghana Jedidiah Reuben Adogla. Representatives from Cambodia, Sierra Leone, the European External Action Service, the African Union and the Francophonie (OIF) were also in attendance.
“We need strengthened partnerships between the EU and the United Nations to ensure that no one, and particularly no youth, is left behind”, said Camilla Brückner, UN Director in Brussels. “The low employment level of youth in developing countries is a challenge that we must address together”.
“The smiles in these pictures are the reason of our work”, said Patrick Gilabert, UNIDO Representative in Brussels. The photo exhibition’s closing celebration will take place on 21 June 2022 during the European Development Days in the presence of Bernardo Calzadilla-Sarmiento, UNIDO Managing Director for Digitalization, Technology and Agri-business.
For more information, please contact:
Patrick Gilabert
Flora Demaegdt