DUSHANBE, November 25, 2012, Asia-Plus — On Thursday November 22, Tajik Minister of Energy and Industries Gul Sherali met in Vienna with Mr. Kandeh K. Yumkella, Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), according to the Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI) of Tajikistan.
The source at a MoEI says the sides discussed issues related to enhancement of Tajikistan’s energy and industrial sectors as well as the UN Secretary-General Initiative entitled “Sustainable Energy for All.”
In the course of the talks, Tajik minister reportedly made a number of suggestions on expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and UNIDO in implementing industrial development programs in the country.
One million U.S. dollars will be provided to Tajikistan in the framework of the UNIDO projects for development of its food industry in the near future, the source said.
Since Mr. Yumkella will head the UN energy sector in July 2013, Gul Sherali also offered expansion of cooperation on implementation of energy projects, including the Central Asia South Asia Electricity Trade and Transmission Project (CASA 1000), the source added.
On November 24, Gul Sherali met in Vienna with senior representatives of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Economy.
Established as UN program in 1965, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) became a specialized agency in the United Nations system in 1985 with headquarters in Vienna, Austria. In 2004, UNIDO established the UNIDO Goodwill Ambassador program. In 2010, UNIDO created two new flagship publications, Making It: Industry for Development and UNIDO Times.
The Organization”s primary objective is the promotion and acceleration of industrial development in developing countries and countries with economies in transition and the promotion of international industrial cooperation. It is also a member of the United Nations Development Group.
UNIDO believes that competitive and environmentally sustainable industry has a crucial role to play in accelerating economic growth, reducing poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Organization therefore works towards improving the quality of life of the world”s poor by drawing on its combined global resources and expertise in the following three interrelated thematic areas:
