Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development presents 'Youth Hub' at UNIDO General Conference
SOURCE: Zawya
Conference underscores the role of youth and entrepreneurship, gender, Industry 4.0, sustainable energy, industrial parks and circular economy in achieving sustainable development
The Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED) has revealed a strategic sponsorship to support the UAE-UNIDO Exhibition that is part of the 18th session of the General Conference (GC) of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), which is set to take place from 3 to 7 November 2019 at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. KFED will feature the ‘Youth Hub’ to bolster growth in the UAE's thriving industrial sector, particularly in the fields of entrepreneurship and SME development.
Themed ‘Industry 2030 – Innovate. Connect. Transform our Future.’, the event will shed light on the future of manufacturing and leading industrial developments across the world and will highlight the potentials in current global trends including youth and entrepreneurship, gender, Industry 4.0, sustainable energy, industrial parks, and circular economy. It will also hold key discussions on policies that could help accelerate the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Mouza Al Nasri, Acting Chief Executive Officer, KFED, said: “Khalifa Fund has been constantly working to further promote the UAE’s brand of entrepreneurship and SME development, while exploring global opportunities to enhance our understanding and cooperation in key areas of growth. Our presence at the UNIDO GC is testament to our commitment to achieve our targets, especially in the areas of manufacturing and the industrial sector, which is a major driver for economic diversification in Abu Dhabi and the UAE.”
UNIDO is holding its 18th session of the General Conference in Abu Dhabi, which presents a major opportunity to further strengthen the role of the industrial sector in the transition of oil-based economies such as the UAE to a more diversified economy. The partnership with the Khalifa Fund as part of the UAE contribution to the UNIDO General Conference fits very well with this year’s theme, which focuses on youth and entrepreneurship, as well as other leading trends that can support industrial growth in the UAE and the Middle East.
The event will discuss some of the UAE’s leading efforts and initiatives to enhance the business environment conducive for the industrial sector, and support manufacturers and business developers expand their operations to achieve growth. It will also underscore Abu Dhabi’s long-term development efforts in manufacturing as outlined in the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, following the Emirate’s efforts to shift to a knowledge-based economy and reduce its dependence on oil as a source of economic activity.
Meanwhile, some entrepreneurs supported by KFED will have the opportunity to showcase their products and services during the five-day event and have the chance to interact with local and international experts in various sectors.
The UNIDO General Conference gathers 800 delegates from 168 Member States including Heads of States and Governments, Ministers, senior representatives of other United Nations organizations, and prominent leaders from the private sector, civil society and academia. Participants will participate in discussions and debates across 25 sessions around policies that facilitate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. A series of high-level side events will accompany the main agenda focused on six key topics; Youth and Entrepreneurship, Gender, Industry 4.0, Sustainable Energy, Industrial Parks, and Circular Economy.
The UNIDO General Conference is the supreme policymaking event that convenes every two years to determine the guidelines and policies of the Organization and approve its budget and working programmes. The event also presents a global forum for promoting industry knowledge and facilitates dialogue on current challenges and opportunities facing member countries. Since becoming a specialized agency, the UNIDO General Conference was hosted away from its Vienna Headquarters only three times: in Bangkok, Thailand (1987); in Yaoundé, Cameroon (1993); in Lima, Peru (2013); and now in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (2019).