UNIDO Champions Inclusive Industrial Development at the 80th United Nations General Assembly
Written By Maxine Ansah
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Marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, the 2025 high-level week of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) brought together world leaders in New York from 20 to 25 September. The discussions took place against a backdrop of political crises, calls for organisational reform and renewed global commitments to sustainable development. For the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the week underscored the urgency of industrial transformation as a cornerstone of sustainable growth.
UNIDO’s Director General, Gerd Müller, reaffirmed the organisation’s steadfast commitment to supporting countries in achieving their development aspirations. Meeting with Annalena Baerbock, President of the General Assembly, Müller highlighted UNIDO’s work in addressing global economic challenges and promoting inclusive industrialisation across regions.
In his engagement with the Chair of the African Union, President João Lourenço of Angola, Müller advanced discussions on the Fourth Industrial Development Decade for Africa (IDDA IV). The talks focused on scaling up industrial development initiatives that could transform Africa’s economic landscape. Similarly, in his meeting with the Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States, President Surangel Samuel Whipps Jr. of Palau, Müller pledged UNIDO’s continued support to Small Island Developing States (SIDS). He announced plans for a ministerial conference in 2026 that will strengthen partnerships and highlight innovative pathways for resilient industrial growth.
UNIDO also took steps to deepen its support for Ukraine’s industrial recovery. Discussions with Ukraine’s Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture centred on concrete measures to rebuild and revitalise the country’s industries. This will include an investment matchmaking event during UNIDO’s upcoming General Conference in November, known as the Global Industry Summit 2025.
During bilateral talks with key donor countries, including China and Germany, Müller explored new opportunities for partnership. These discussions emphasised the need to strengthen cooperation in development finance and mobilise investments to advance global sustainability goals.
At the UN Global Compact Private Sector Forum, hosted by Secretary-General António Guterres, Müller addressed the need for greater private sector engagement in financing sustainable development. “We cannot achieve the SDGs with public financing alone. We don’t need more speeches, we need investments,” he stated, urging companies to seize the moment for mutually beneficial change.
UNIDO’s commitment to innovation was also evident at a joint event with Saudi Arabia, UN Trade and Development and the UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies. The event brought together global technology leaders, including Deloitte, IBM, Microsoft, SAP, NVIDIA and the World Economic Forum, to explore artificial intelligence solutions for industry. The gathering marked the launch of the UNIDO Foundation, a new platform designed to mobilise private sector resources for sustainable economic and industrial development.
The organisation also played a key role in advancing global climate discussions. In partnership with the UN Climate Action Team and the Brazilian Presidency of the upcoming COP30, UNIDO co-hosted a high-level dialogue on industrial decarbonisation. The outcomes of this dialogue will contribute to deliberations at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, later this year.
One of the highlights of the week was UNIDO’s flagship Africa-focused event, co-organised with the African Union Commission and other partners. The event secured high-level political backing for the IDDA IV and paved the way for the adoption of a forthcoming General Assembly resolution. Speaking at the event, Müller emphasised Africa’s potential as a global growth driver. “Despite the many current challenges, Africa is the continent of the future. We all believe in the future of Africa, and now is the time to act in the spirit of true partnership and cooperation,” he said.
In addition to these major engagements, Müller joined a panel at the High-level Meeting of the Global Development Initiative, opened by China’s Premier Li Qiang. He underscored the need for broad-based and innovative partnerships to achieve lasting results in sustainable development.
UNIDO Deputy Director General Fatou Haidara also represented the organisation in several key sessions, including the 10th Ministerial Meeting of the Like-Minded Group for Middle-Income Countries, UN Digital Cooperation Day and the Global Coffee Dialogue.
Bilateral discussions with leaders from Austria, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Hungary, Iceland, Kenya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and senior UN officials further underscored the relevance of UNIDO’s mission. Through these engagements, the organisation reaffirmed its role in driving inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, a goal that remains central to addressing today’s complex global challenges.