UNIDO Director General Li Concludes Successful Philippine Visit
Philippine Ambassador to Austria Maria Cleofe R. Natividad (second from left), UNIDO Director General Li Yong (center), and NEDA Director General Ernesto M. Pernia (second from right) reaffirm their commitment towards achieving inclusive, sustainable, and innovation-led growth for the Philippines. (Vienna PE photo)
VIENNA 18 July 2018 – United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Director General Li Yong wrapped up a productive four-day visit to the Philippines, as part of his current Asian rounds on 26 June 2018.
Director General Li was accompanied by Ciyong Zou, Director of UNIDO’s Department of Programmes, Partnerships and Field Integration.
Ambassador to Austria Maria Cleofe R. Natividad welcomed Director General Li, and joined him in his calls on key government offices that traditionally have strong collaboration with UNIDO.
Director General Li was received by Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia, and Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña.
The Director General also met with Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Enrique A. Manalo, Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Rodolfo Garcia, and Energy Undersecretary Jesus Posadas to wrap up his governmental visits.
During his meetings, Director General Li expressed appreciation for the continuous support of the Philippines to UNIDO, as well as the crafting of a well-developed Philippine Development Plan (PDP).
He stated that the purpose of his visit was to determine the needs and demands on UNIDO to generate support for local industries, and reassured the Philippines of his agency’s commitment to the inclusive and sustainable development of the country’s various sectors, including manufacturing, energy, agriculture, and the environment.
The Director General likewise noted the commonalities and convergence between the PDP and the UNIDO Country Program Framework that is in the process of being finalized.
The Philippines, for its part, briefed Director General Li on its various undertakings which are aligned with UNIDO’s mandate, and identified areas of further collaboration.
During his trip, Director General Li visited the Non-Combustible Persistent Organic Pollutants (NONCOMPOPS) facility of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environment Management Bureau, located inside the Philippine National Oil Corporation compound in Mariveles, Bataan. He also toured the facilities of the Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) of the Department of Science and Technology. Both have been beneficiaries of UNIDO assistance.
Impressed by his visit, Director General Li announced that he will bring the lessons from the Philippines to his other stops in the region and, ultimately, to the UNIDO headquarters in Vienna as best practices that may be applied in other countries.
Director General Li Yong’s visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Basic Cooperation Agreement of the Philippines with UNIDO. The event was spearheaded by the Philippine country office of UNIDO with assistance from National Economic and Development Authority and the DFA Office of United Nations and International Organizations and in coordination with the Philippine Embassy and Permanent Mission in Vienna. END
(Vienna PE photo)
DG Li visits the Non-Combustible Persistent Organic Pollutants (NONCOMPOPS) facility of the DENR (Vienna PE photo)
For more information, visit www.viennape.dfa.gov.ph / www.philippine-embassy.at or @pevienna on Twitter