Expanded UNIDO support for industrial sector

Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen hands over a 

souvenir to UNIDO Representative and Regional Director for South Asia Ayumi Fujino (centre) as UNIDO National Director Sri Lanka Nawaz Rajabdeen (right) looks on

• Organisation outlines new sectors for support with Govt. including climate change

The United Nations Industrial Development Organsiation (UNIDO) is planning larger intervention in Sri Lanka’s industry sector with development plans in the areas of climate change, chemical and waste management, leather processing and industrial parks, a statement from the Industry and Commerce Minister said yesterday. 

“In the next country policy for Sri Lanka, UNIDO is keen to build a more comprehensive industry support level,” said UNIDO Representative and Regional Director for South Asia Ayumi Fujino this week in Colombo. The outgoing South Asia Regional Director Fujino met Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen to outline the organisation’s strategy earlier this month.    “UNIDO will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this November. We have built up a strong global portfolio over the years. We have supported Sri Lankan industries in a variety of ways. UNIDO’s preceding three year collaboration with Sri Lanka has just ended and it is time for us to formulate a new country policy,” said South Asia Regional Director Fujino. 

“Our Director General Li Yong is keen to strengthen cooperation with Sri Lanka. Therefore in the next country policy for Sri Lanka, UNIDO is keen to build a more comprehensive industry support level-to both the country and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and also to enhance Sri Lankan initiatives of UNIDO so far.”  

Sri Lankan initiatives of UNIDO span waste reduction, industrial information structures including industry registration and surveys, low cost green initiatives such as the bamboo project, concepts such as the Triple Bottom Line and even support for the five year Industrial Policy Plan, the statement said. 

Director General of UNIDO in Vienna, Li Yong, visited Sri Lanka in early February and announced six new industrial projects on 5 February during a meeting with Minister Bathiudeen. The new projects announced were on climate change, chemical and waste management, leather processing and industrial parks. 

“We thank UNIDO for its support to Sri Lanka’s industry sector. Specially, your assistance to our five year Industrial Policy Plan is commendable,” said Bathiudeen. “During your tenure, we have seen new UNIDO initiatives for Sri Lanka. We welcome UNIDO’s enhanced support to Sri Lanka in future and we believe that such enhanced intervention to be timely especially given the industrial reforms planned by our Government.”

The outgoing South Asia Regional Director Fujino is considered as a pioneer of UNIDO’s initiative for post conflict assistance and was closely involved in UNIDO programmes in streamlining the regulatory framework for private sector development, entrepreneurship promotion through local production networks and market facilitation by linking rural/local products with urban and export markets.