VIENNA – From 24-25 November 2023, the 10th Ministerial Conference of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) took place at the headquarters of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in Vienna.

Innovative solutions, industrial policy visions for the 2022-2031 decade, reinvigorated partnerships and SME development, as well as green and climate-resilient industrial pathways, were among the key topics discussed during the two-day conference. The Ministerial Conference’s main call focused on the need for a fair globalization.

UNIDO’s Director General, Gerd Müller, said, “We need a fundamental change to a fairer globalization.This must be the message of our meeting. UNIDO is ready to implement concrete projects for more value addition and job creation. With our new Operational Strategy for the LDCs, we will expand project cooperation in key areas like food security, energy, green minerals or digitalization.”   

The 10th edition of the Ministerial Conference of the LDCs was organized by UNIDO, in cooperation with the Office of the High-Representative for the Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Global Compact, and the United Nations Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries.

The conference builds on the efforts of the 5th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (UN LDC5) held in Doha, Qatar in March 2023, following the adoption of the Doha Programme of Action (DPoA).

With its Operational Strategy 2022-2031, UNIDO has aligned all its operations across all six DPoA-focused areas in support of investing in people, leveraging science, technology and innovation, structural transformation, trade and regional integration, building resilience, solidarity and partnerships for the LDCs inclusive and sustainable industrial development.

The Under-Secretary General and High-Representative of UN-OHRLLS, Rabab Fatima, emphasized that “these countries have the most untapped potential in the world, from natural to human resources. OHRLLS as the UN’s focal point for the implementation of the DPoA will continue its partnership with UNIDO, to tackle issues related to industrialization and structural transformation that are preventing them from realizing their full potential.”

The conference concluded with the adoption of a Ministerial Declaration and the UNIDO Operational Strategy for LDCs 2022-2031. This endeavour recognizes the vital role of industry in the realization of the DPoA targets.