Vienna.- The Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), LI Yong, held a meeting today with the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the International Organizations in Vienna, Ambassador Vladimir Voronkov to discuss joint steps in advancing inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID), and to expand joint efforts within UNIDO’s Programme for Country Partnership (PCP) in Ethiopia.
The meeting was attended by a delegation of Russia’s Permanent Mission, including Georgy Mikhno, Deputy Permanent Representative, and Vera Khutorskaya, Counsellor. UNIDO was represented by Amita Misra, Director of the Department of Regional Programmes and Field Representation, and Gerardo Patacconi, Officer-in Charge of Agri-Business Development, as well as by UNIDO specialists responsible for the Regional Division Europe and Central Asia and the PCP Ethiopia.
Director General Li noted that the PCP “is an instrument for the implementation of ISID and it represents an innovative approach to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 9.” He highlighted the significance of the Russian Government’s contribution to the mandate of UNIDO to promote the inclusive economic development, social well-being and environmentally sustainable growth of its Member States.
Ambassador Voronkov said that his Government is committed to promoting the PCPs to create jobs and improve food security across the world. He reiterated Russia’s long-standing commitment to ISID in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The project, titled, “Technical and institutional capacity building for the increase in production and development of the aquaculture and fisheries value chains in Ethiopia”, will be fully funded by the Russian Government through a voluntary contribution of US$2.26m to the Industrial Development Fund of UNIDO. The four-year project will be implemented between 2017 and 2020. The project will commence after the official signing and launch by the Government of Ethiopia.
During the meeting, the Director General and Ambassador Voronkov also discussed the global forum events supported by the Russian Government this year.