Industrial Development Board, 22nd session

Visits of Ministers to the Director-General

The 22nd session of IDB was honored by the presence of high-level officials who came from their capitals to head their respective delegations in the debate of the Board, among them , H. E. Mr. Cissé, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Handicrafts of Burkina Faso; H.E. Mr. Affi N'Guessan, Minister of Industry and Tourism of Côte d'Ivoire; H.E. Mr. Ratovomalala, Minister of Industrialization and Handicraft of Madagascar; H.E. Dr. Sergio Abreu Bonilla, Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining of Uruguay; and H.E. Mr. Savané, Minister of Industry, Mining and Handicrafts of Senegal, who also represented the Presidency of the 14th Conference of African Ministers of Industry. (Picture: H.E. Mr. Affi N'Guessan, Minister of Industry and Tourism of Côte d'Ivoire, signs the visitors' book)

During the individual meetings with Director-General Carlos Magariños, the African Ministers mainly discussed the integrated programmes in their respective countries. Although, they were complementing UNIDO on the ongoing activities under the programmes, they expressed their concern over the difficulties faced in financing the programmes. The Director-General responded that the challenge of resource mobilization for the integrated programmes was one in which all concerned parties needed to take an active interest to ensure their successful implementation. The African Ministers recognized that UNIDO had so far proved to be the most generous of all, allocating funds under the IDDA II programme, and this, despite the fact that UNIDO is not a funding Organization.

The second issue addressed by the African Ministers, in particular, by the Ministers of Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal and Madagascar, related to UNIDO's support of CAMI. This was considered critical for economic development in the region, since industrialization has been adopted by many African countries, as the way out of Africa's current marginalization from the global economy. The African guests expressed their satisfaction that UNIDO has formulated a project in support of CAMI's activities and expressed the hope for continued UNIDO support in the quest for African industrialization. CAMI expects to strengthen its substantive work in advocating African industrialization and identifying a sectoral focus each biennium in order to maximize the body's effectiveness and impact on industrial development in Africa. (Picture: H.E. Mr. Savane, Minister of Industry, Trade and Mining of Senegal, and Mr. Carlos Magarinos)

The Minister of Madagascar expressed his satisfaction at the Director-General's decision to send a programme formulation mission to Madagascar in September 2000. He considered this of particular importance in view of promoting the country's participation in the US/Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, whereby African countries have duty-free access to the US market for agro-based products, such as leather, wood, food and textiles. The meetings were also attended by Mr. A. Yusuf, Assistant Director-General and Adviser on African Affairs and Mr. K. Yumkella, Director of the Africa Bureau. (Picture: )

H.E. Dr. Sergio Abreu Bonilla, Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining of Uruguay, came to Vienna to head the Uruguay delegation to the Board. During his meeting with Mr. Magariños, the discussion focused on the UNIDO-Uruguay programme in sectoral development, in particular the agro-industries sector. Both officials also discussed possible activities related to investment and export development. Mr. Magariños visited Uruguay in July 1999, when he inaugurated a UNIDO office for the Southern Zone of Latin America in Montevideo, which monitors UNIDO services in seven countries: Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. The meeting was also attended by Mr. A. Di liscia, Assistant Director-General and Chief of Cabinet and Mr. G. Aishemberg, Director of Latin America and the Caribbean Bureau. (Picture: H.E .Mr. Sergio Abreu Bonilla, Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining of Uruguay and Mr.Magarinos)