26 January 2015 - Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Vienna, Ambassador Lourdes O. Yparraguirre, chaired the panel discussion on United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) entitled “Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development” during the ACUNS Vienna UN Conference held from January 14 to 16.
ACUNS, the Academic Council on the United Nations System, organized a conference with the theme “ Lessons Learned from the Millennium Development Goals: Perspectives for the Post 2015 Development Agenda”, in cooperation with the Austrian Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs; City of Vienna, University of Vienna, Diplomatic Academy of Vienna and various UN agencies based in Vienna specifically, UNIDO, UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) Preparatory Commission, UN Office of Outer Space Affairs, UN Information Service (UNIS Vienna), UN Commission on International Trade (UNCITRAL), and Sustainable Energy for All.
The Conference was participated in by the respective heads of the UN agencies and international organizations based in Vienna; Director General for the Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Austrian Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and International Affairs, and various international experts on the issues pertinent to the post 2015 development agenda. The First Lady of Moldova Margareta Timofti, was a special guest at the Opening Session.
In her opening remarks, Ambassador Yparraguirre set the tone for the panel discussion by recalling the origins of the millennium development goals (MDGs) which served as the blueprint for development at the turn of the century. Ambassador Yparraguirre highlighted the significant progress achieved by member states towards achieving the eight MDGs by 2015, set forth by the world leaders in the Millennium Declaration they adopted in the Summit in New York in 2000. In particular, she cited that poverty was reduced by 50% across the globe; more children had completed primary schooling and mortality rate significantly dropped. Against this backdrop, Ambassador Yparraguirre invited attention to the post 2015 development agenda, particularly the 17 sustainable development goals to be discussed by the Leaders Meeting in September 2015.
During the panel discussions, the panelists emphasized the need to prioritize activities that would have multiplier effect to ensure that limited resources used for development projects would produce maximum effect. They underlined the role of UNIDO, through policy guidance and technical assistance, in promoting and accelerating sustainable industrial development in developing countries and economies in transition. They recognized that UNIDO’s activities in support of inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) could harness the full potential of the industry’s contribution to the achievement of sustainable development, and lasting prosperity for all. END