Vienna, 13 February – UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller has concluded a six-day mission to Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where he reinforced UNIDO’s commitment to fostering inclusive and sustainable industrial development in the Gulf region. The visit underscored key areas of cooperation aimed at advancing industrialization, renewable energy and climate action.

In Oman, Müller held high-level talks with the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Khalifa Alharthy and the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, Qais bin Mohammad Al Yousef on aligning UNIDO’s technical and policy support with Oman’s manufacturing strategy and Vision 2040.  UNIDO has also supported the development of Oman’s manufacturing strategy. The Director General highlighted the importance of increasing local added value in supply chains, deploying innovative technologies and greater skills training to drive economic diversification and job creation.

The Director General participated in Oman’s National Industry Day as a keynote speaker, reiterating UNIDO’s role in supporting the country’s building of a resilient and sustainable manufacturing sector. On this occasion, the Director General signed a Joint Declaration with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion to expand cooperation in key industrial sectors and support Oman’s transformation into a manufacturing hub in the GCC region. 

Talks with the Environment Authority discussed targeted activities to meet Oman’s climate commitments. The discussions focused on sustainable industrial solutions, circular economy initiatives and strategies to preserve the environment while promoting economic growth.

Müller furthermore visited the SOHAR Port and Free Zone, one of the region’s key industrial hubs, speaking there with senior executives on advancing value chain development and leveraging renewable energy solutions, particularly with green hydrogen. Recognizing Oman’s potential as a regional leader in sustainable energy, he emphasized the necessity of international cooperation in making the transition to a low-carbon economy a reality.

In the United Arab Emirates, the Director General attended the World Government Summit, a platform for global dialogue on governance and development. Speaking on a panel on global trade, he stressed the need for a fair globalization and the importance on international cooperation, calling for greater solidarity with developing countries. He highlighted the role of industrial development in enhancing global trade, economic resilience, and reducing poverty.

Strengthening UNIDO-UAE collaboration, the Director General held a meeting with the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, reaffirming the UAE’s role as a strategic partner for the UNIDO. There Müller noted the success of ongoing initiatives, including the establishment of a Global Center for Health Industry Readiness, bolstering international preparedness for health-related challenges by fostering innovation and capacity-building in medical supply chains.

Talks were also held on the creation of a Global Carbon Capture and Utilization Center to leverage cutting-edge technologies to mitigate carbon emissions and support sustainable industrial practices worldwide. The Director General praised the UAE’s leadership in advancing industrial sustainability and reaffirmed UNIDO’s commitment to providing technical expertise and policy support for these transformative initiatives.

The visits to Oman and the UAE reaffirm UNIDO’s dedication to supporting industrial transformation, economic diversification, and climate action across the Gulf region. The Director General expressed optimism about the strengthened partnerships and the opportunities for further cooperation in driving sustainable industrial growth.