SEforALL Chief Executive attends UNIDO General Conference

LIMA/VIENNA, 5 December 2013 - Kandeh K. Yumkella, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General & Chief Executive of the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative has joined over 1,500 delegates including Heads of State and Government, ministers representing countries from all continents and high-level representatives of UN agencies at the opening of the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)  General Conference. The 15th session of the General Conference hosted by the Peruvian Government of President Ollanta Humala adopted a new Lima Declaration that charts UNIDO's development priorities going forward and places special emphasis on inclusive and sustainable industrial development. In his capacity as the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Mr. Yumkella participated on a high-level panel "Partnerships for Industrial Development" focusing on concurrent development trajectories taking place at low-income, middle-income and high-income economies. As a two-term former Director General, Yumkella is widely credited in raising UNIDO's profile among other UN agencies around the world and in the global development arena. By ensuring its recognition "as an agency with a highly relevant mandate, one that is focused on helping to achieve international development goals, and dedicated to building partnership" UNIDO has positioned itself as the premier agency needed around the world to help nations deal with sustainable industrial development. The biennial event is UNIDO's highest policymaking organ bringing together all 174 Member States to determine the guiding principles and policies of the organization and approves the budget and work programme of UNIDO and elects members of the Industrial Development Board.