Events

VIENNA, 27 November (BelTA) – Belarus’ Ambassador to Austria, Belarus’ Permanent Representative to the international organizations in Vienna Alena Kupchyna has been elected Chairperson of the 17^th session of the General Conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The session opened at the Vienna International Center on 27 November, BelTA has learned.

Alena Kupchyna will serve as Chairperson until the next session of the UNIDO General Conference which is due to take place in 2019. The representative of Belarus has been elected the head of the session of the main political bodies of the UN universal international organizations for the first time.

The General Conference is UNIDO's supreme policymaking organ where all member states meet once every two years. It determines the guiding principles and policies of the Organization and approves the budget and work program.

Taking part in the 17^th General Conference are about 200 delegations of member states of the organization, agencies of the UN system, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. The opening ceremony was attended by the presidents of Switzerland and Malta, and also current President of the UN General Assembly Miroslav Lajcak.

The current session of the General Conference is themed Partnering for impact — achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Diplomats and experts will spend this week taking stock of the UNIDO’s performance in 2016-2017, considering the organization’s program for 2018-2021. The agenda of the session will also include Belarus-initiated draft resolution on sustainable industrial development of the mid-income countries.

In recent years Belarus has been actively cooperating with UNIDO almost throughout the entire spectrum of the organization's activities. At present, UNIDO is implementing technical assistance projects in the country to the total tune of about $2 million. The issues of energy efficiency and environmental safety in industry are considered as promising areas of cooperation.