MÁLAGA – UNIDO actively contributed to the EU Industry Days 2023, which serves as an open forum to discuss industrial challenges and co-create solutions and policy responses in an inclusive dialogue with a wide range of partners from industry, EU countries, civil society organisations, and universities. The EU Industry Days is Europe’s flagship annual event on industry, organized by the European Commission Directorate General of Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW).  

This year's edition of the EU Industry Days took place in Málaga, Spain, from 4-6 October comprising a wide range of plenary and parallel sessions that focused on the main drivers, opportunities, and challenges of the green, digital, and resilient transition, EU open strategic autonomy, and the integration of Ukraine into the single market. 

Mr. Christophe Yvetot, UNIDO Representative to the European Union, contributed to the high-level panel on Building Resilience through Sustainable and Trusted Connections during which he underlined the importance of international cooperation and partnerships. He highlighted how UNIDO builds trusted connections in developing countries between governments, industries, and civil society, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and expertise. He outlined that UNIDO emphasizes the importance of tailored capacity-building initiatives, technology transfer, and financial assistance to empower developing countries to integrate sustainable practices into their industrial processes. 

He also highlighted the need for international cooperation in relations to norms, standards and technical regulations. The European Union is particularly strengthening its legislation related to international value chains (Corporate Social Due Diligence Directive), carbon emissions (Carbon Boarder Adjustment Mechanism - CBAM), and deforestation which developing countries will need to adapt to continue to have access to the European market. Recognizing this, UNIDO can assist them build quality infrastructure to help them become compliant. Supporting developing countries in their transition to compliance through global supply chains is a high-impact opportunity that aligns with the goals of both sustainable development and climate action. Adding insights on the EU's Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards and its impact on the partner countries in Latin America and Africa, Mr. Yvetot emphasized: "By strengthening cooperation with the EU, UNIDO aims to empower countries in Latin America and Africa with the tools and practices necessary for inclusive and sustainable industrial growth, which will lead to increased economic resilience and global competitiveness for these countries". 

The EU Industry Days gathered around 1,800 registrations from 68 countries, including over 200 speakers. During the event, participants had the opportunity to connect with new partners, gain insights from experts about EU initiatives, and explore a diverse exhibition featuring the latest technologies and inventive.