DFA and UNIDO Ink Joint Declaration to Accelerate Sustainable Industrial and Economic Development in PH 

Undersecretary Carlos D. Sorreta and UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller present copies of the signed Joint Declaration reaffirming the commitment of the Philippines and UNIDO to advance sustainable economic development. (DFA-OPCD photo by Maria Vanessa Ubac)

PASAY CITY 03 October 2022 — Undersecretary for Multilateral and International Economic Relations Carlos D. Sorreta and Director General Gerd Müller of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) signed a Joint Declaration reaffirming the commitment of the Philippines and UNIDO in accelerating sustainable industrial and economic development during the latter’s call at the Department of Foreign Affairs on 29 September 2022.

“The Philippines’ partnership with UNIDO has been transformative to the country’s development landscape and has been instrumental in helping the Philippines regain momentum in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Undersecretary Sorreta.

Both sides also discussed pressing development issues such as the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, renewable energy, fair labor and migration practices, and sustainable agriculture.

The Philippines and UNIDO share a long history together since the Basic Cooperation Agreement (BCA) was signed in 1993. Ever since, the relationship between the Philippines and UNIDO has evolved into a strategic partnership that has given rise to several projects across various regions in the Philippines. In the past seven years, UNIDO has 11 ongoing projects in the Philippines, mostly aimed at supporting the Philippine government’s goal of switching to more sustainable sources of energy such as the Renewable Energy Technology for Seaweed Value Added (RETS) project in Tawi-Tawi.

In addition to the BCA, the 2018-2023 Country Partnership Framework (CPF) guides the relationship between the Philippines and UNIDO and identifies programs targeting shared development goals such as food security, energy efficiency, climate action, and trade and investments promotion. UNIDO’s programs in the Philippines are anchored on the Philippine Development Plan and AmBisyon 2040.

Representatives from the Office of the United Nations and International Organizations (UNIO), the Office of Multilateral and International Economic Relations (OMAIER), the Philippine Embassy in Vienna joined Undersecretary Sorreta during the call while UNIDO Country Representative Teddy Monroy and other UNIDO representatives accompanied Director General Müller.

Director General Müller visited the Philippines from 27 to 29 September 2022 as part of his official trip to Southeast Asia. Apart from the Philippines, he also visited Indonesia and Singapore. END

Undersecretary Carlos D. Sorreta and UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller discuss the shared priorities of the Philippines and UNIDO and the future of Philippines-UNIDO partnership. (DFA-OPCD photo by Maria Vanessa Ubac)