Beijing, 11 September 2024 – The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has launched a comprehensive e-learning course on South-South and Triangular Industrial Cooperation (SSTIC) during the Steering Committee meeting with the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China (MOFCOM) in Beijing. This initiative, a key component of the MOFCOM-funded project "Enhance UNIDO's South-South and triangular industrial cooperation services," aims to strengthen partnerships among countries of the Global South for inclusive and sustainable industrial development.

The UNIDO delegation was led by Cecilia Ugaz Estrada, Deputy to the Director General and Managing Director of the Directorate of Strategic Planning, Programming and Policy, along with Shenhong Yao, Director of the Division of Strategic Planning and South-South Cooperation (SPP/SSC), Pradeep Paulose, Programme Officer in the same division. The delegation met with Zhao Chunfeng, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Trade and Economic Affairs at MOFCOM.

Ugaz Estrada highlighted the significance of this collaboration, stating, "South-South and Triangular Industrial Cooperation is a key component of UNIDO's overall strategy to leverage the emerging economic dynamism within the Global South. Our focus is on integrating SSTIC more systematically into our country programming frameworks, especially for SIDS and MICs, and mobilizing Southern expertise for targeted technical assistance."

UNIDO's Director Shenhong Yao further emphasized: "SSTIC is revolutionizing how we approach industrial development challenges. By tapping into the innovative solutions emerging from the Global South, we're seeing faster, more cost-effective, and culturally relevant responses to local needs."

Developed within the framework of UNIDO's project to enhance SSTIC services, the course provides in-depth training for a wide range of stakeholders, including government officials, policymakers, and development practitioners involved in industrial cooperation initiatives.

The e-learning package covers various aspects of SSTIC, including:

• Introduction to SSTIC and its role in industrial development
• SSTIC policy frameworks
• Best practices in implementing SSTIC projects

The launch event in Beijing coincides with the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, underscoring the global importance of this cooperation modality. Upon successful completion, participants will receive a certificate acknowledging their accomplishment.

This initiative marks a significant step in UNIDO's efforts to mainstream SSTIC across its operations and build capacity to deliver effective industrial cooperation services to Member States. The launch during the MOFCOM project steering committee meeting highlights the strong partnership between UNIDO and China in promoting South-South cooperation for sustainable industrial development.

For more information or to register for the course, please contact:

• Pradeep Paulose, Programme Officer, Division of Strategic Planning and South-South Cooperation (SPP/SSC)
• Sebastian Schrottenbach, Project Administrator, Division of Strategic Planning and South-South Cooperation (SPP/SSC)
• Email: sstic@unido.org

UNIDO’s SSTIC e-learning course can be accessed at: https://hub.unido.org/node/12317