26 June 2025, 15:11

UNIDO director general praises cooperation with Belarus

MINSK, 26 June (BelTA) – Belarusian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Secreta met with Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Gerd Müller on 26 June, BelTA learned from the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Igor Secreta stressed the significance of the date of the meeting - the 80th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter, noting the relevance of this document in modern conditions. He drew attention to the increased demand for UNIDO services and expertise in promoting sustainable industrial development and praised the organization's ability to build effective intersectoral cooperation between public and private structures, the scientific and expert community.

The parties discussed the current state and prospects of cooperation between Belarus and UNIDO, the implementation of existing technical cooperation projects, as well as priority areas for further partnership in accordance with the cooperation framework.

Special attention was paid to initiatives in digital transformation and the fourth industrial revolution, including projects in Brest Oblast and Mogilev Oblast.

The parties also considered launching a project in the Great Stone Industrial Park with Chinese financing to give the venue the status of an eco-industrial park. The importance of the agreement reached on the UNIDO's technical mission to Belarus in late July to discuss the matter.

The parties also discussed the possibilities of combining Belarus’ efforts to strengthen the industrial and production potential of African countries and UNIDO’s project activities to promote industrial development of Africa, including using the capabilities of the UNIDO Center of Excellence in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and the potential of Belarusian industry and agriculture.

Igor Sekreta also touched upon the issues facing the middle-income countries and the role of UNIDO as the only organization that runs a special partnership framework with the middle-income countries to help these countries meet their development challenges. In this context, Belarus’ initiative to update UNIDO’s Strategic Framework for middle-income countries will be considered at the upcoming 53rd session of the Industrial Development Board in Vienna, on 30 June-3 July 2025).

Gerd Müller highly appreciated the level of cooperation with Belarus and thanked the country for the active and consistent support of the organization. He reaffirmed UNIDO’s commitment to stepping up technical cooperation with Belarus and invited Belarus to take part in the 21st session of the UNIDO General Conference, which will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 23 to 27 November.

The parties reaffirmed commitment to promoting practical cooperation.

UNIDO is a specialized agency of the United Nations, the statutory objective of which is to assist states in the modernization of industrial production, environmentally sound and sustainable industrial development, introduction of new technologies and their adaptation.

Belarus supports UNIDO's leading role in promoting sustainable industrial development, uses the organization's expertise and capabilities to improve the competitiveness and environmental friendliness of industry, introduce modern technologies and standards.

In December 2020, a cooperation framework between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and UNIDO was signed with an initial term of five years. The program defines the areas for expanding interaction and joint work, taking into account the priorities of social and economic development of Belarus. It was continued until December 2030.

Belarus traditionally takes an active part in the work of UNIDO's governing bodies. In November 2023, Belarus was elected for the fifth time to one of the main decision-making bodies of UNIDO - the Industrial Development Board.

Belarus consistently supports the strengthening of UNIDO’s leading role in promoting sustainable industrial development of the countries of the world, uses the organization’s expertise and capabilities to improve the competitiveness and environmental friendliness of its production facilities, introduce modern technologies and standards.

In December 2020, a framework program of cooperation between the Government of Belarus and UNIDO was signed with an initial validity of 5 years. It defines areas for expanding cooperation and joint work, taking into account the priorities of social and economic development of Belarus. Its validity period was extended until December 2030.

Belarus has traditionally taken an active part in the work of UNIDO's governing bodies. In November 2023, Belarus was elected to the Industrial Development Council for the fifth time.