UNIDO Director General signs a Country Program Framework with Iran

Tehran, Nov 23, IRNA - The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Islamic Republic of Iran signed a Country Program (CP) Framework in Vienna on November 22. According to a report by the UN Information Center in Tehran (UNIC), the signed country program is expected to contribute to the on-going Government efforts towards Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (ISID) of Iran. The CP is aligned with national priorities outlined in the sixth 5-Year National Development Plan for 2016-2021 and the UNDAF 2017-2021. Developed together with the Government of Iran, the country program will be implemented from 2017-2021 and it has a number of key areas of focus, such as: support to the Government of Iran to elaborate sector-specific industrial policies, job creation; strengthened enterprise competitiveness, market access and export; establishment of networks for knowledge sharing and building partnerships at the regional and international level; and promotion of an environmentally sustainable industrial development. Addressing journalists at the signing ceremony, Mr. Ramezan Ali Sadeqzadeh, Deputy for Training, Research and Technology at the Ministry of Industry, Mine & Trade welcomed the cooperation and said that the implementation of the Country Program will be crucial to achieving national priorities outlined in the Iran’s 5-Year National Development Plan (2016-2021). He further highlighted the Government’s resolve and commitment to ensure that the CP makes meaningful contribution and impact towards industrial development. Mr. LI Yong, Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) stated that signing of the new CP for Iran is timely given that the international community has recently adopted the Sustainable Development Goals, one of which (SDG 9) is focused on building resilient infrastructure, promotion of inclusive and sustainable industrialization and fostering of innovation. He further highlighted his confidence that the country program will be able to contribute to the country’s ongoing efforts focused on environmental protection, resource efficiency, green industry and employment. The official signing ceremony was also the occasion for the Ministry of Industry Mine and Trade of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH (AIT) to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on systemic intervention towards a low-carbon transformation in the Islamic Republic of Iran. 1378/IRNA