PR93377

VIENNA, Dec. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

Gerd Muller, Germany's acting Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and

Development, is set to take office as the new Director General of the United

Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

Muller's appointment for a four-year term was confirmed today by the UNIDO

General Conference held in Vienna. Muller will succeed Li Yong, who led the

United Nations' specialized agency driving inclusive and sustainable industrial

development since 2013.

During his two terms in office, Li led the Organization through an important

transition as its Member States renewed UNIDO's mandate with the adoption of

the 2013 Lima Declaration.  The 2013 Lima Declaration highlighted the concept

and the vision of inclusive and sustainable industrial development, which was

embedded in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as SDG 9, "Build

resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization

and foster innovation".

Li subsequently launched the Programme for Country Partnership, an innovative

development model that builds synergies with ongoing government and partner

interventions supporting industrial development and a model that leverages

investment in selected priority sectors.

Muller has vowed to build on the successful work of his predecessor: "I want to

thank Director General Li and the UNIDO staff for the successful work over the

last eight years".  He wants to further strengthen UNIDO by creating a global

platform for technology transfer, know-how and digitalization. The platform, he

says, "can foster green skills and technologies, expand the use of renewable

energies and open up fair access to global markets and value chains - in close

collaboration with other UN agencies, governments, development banks, companies

and investors."

He wants UNIDO to play its part in the UN Common Agenda to help its Member

States to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris

Agreement on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the

Beijing Declaration on gender equality.

Muller said, "We are currently facing global challenges that affect us all:

climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing hunger. To fight

inequality, to build back better and to promote a green recovery, we must work

together and we must act now!"

He emphasized his aim is "to establish UNIDO as a leading multilateral player

in fostering green, resilient, inclusive and sustainable industrial development

through a renewed partnership between industrialized countries and developing

countries. And with a stronger commitment from the industrialized countries".

As Federal Minister, Muller strengthened the Ministry for Economic Cooperation

and Development by doubling the development cooperation budget to more than 12

billion euros and by creating special-initiatives on "World without hunger",

"refugees and migration" and "training and jobs for the youth" -  in

cooperation with private corporations, especially in Africa (Compact with

Africa, Marshall Plan with Africa).

With Muller's COVID-19 Emergency Programme of 4 billion euros, Germany mounted

an immediate and comprehensive response to support least developed countries

and middle-income countries in coping with the social, economic and health

consequences of the pandemic.

More information, including picture and video material can be found here:

https://www.unido.org/news/change-management-unido-gerd-muller-succeeds-director-general-li-yong

- Pictures are available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com) -

For further information, please contact: Ms. Claudia Grossing, Strategic

Advocacy and Communications Administrator, Department of External Relations,

UNIDO, Email: c.groessing@unido.org

Source: United Nations Industrial Development Organization UNIDO