Statement by H.E. Mr. Mitsuru Kitano, Permanent Representative, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan at the 47th Session of the Industrial Development Board of UNIDO
2019/7/1
[Agenda Item 3: Annual Report of the Director General for 2018]
Thank you, Mr. President,
I would like to begin by congratulating your Excellency Ambassador Florensa Palau of Spain on your election as President of the forty-seventh session of the Industrial Development Board. I am sure that this session will be successful under your able leadership. I would also like to thank the outgoing Chair, H.E. Ambassador Mebarki of Algeria, together with the Bureau members, for their dedicated work.
Mr. President,
Japan commends UNIDO’s achievements in 2018 under the Director-General’s leadership. UNIDO has played a key role in promoting ISID and the implementation of the SDGs.
UNIDO is an important partner for Japan in the SDGs implementation. The G20 under Japan’s presidency, and the 7th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) both taking place this year, are excellent opportunities for Japan to further this partnership.
Concerning the G20 which took place in Osaka last week, we highly appreciate UNIDO’s contributions to this important meeting with the submission of two reports: one on Circular Economy, and the other on Industrial Development of Africa and LDCs. At the G20 Summit meeting, it was announced that the Government of Japan has decided to make additional contributions of approx. 2.2 million USD, to fund two new UNIDO projects, supporting African countries in tackling marine plastic litter issues. This expansion of cooperation to a new area shows our high expectations and trust in the Organization’s work.
Towards the forthcoming TICAD7 in Yokohama in August, further cooperation will be discussed. Japan will host a “Pre-TICAD7” event here at the VIC on 4 July, together with UNIDO and the African Union Commission. We look forward to the attendance of several high-level guests from African countries, and the discussion of important issues for African development, such as the promotion of innovation and private investment in the context of TICAD7. We aim at creating best synergies between TICAD7 and IDDA3. We strongly hope that many of you will join this event, after this IDB.
Mr. President,
Allow me to turn to the urgent issue of the programme and budget for the next biennium, 2020 - 2021.
First of all, Japan appreciates every effort made by DG Li Yong and the Secretariat to clarify the amount of UNIDO’s contribution the UN Resident Coordinator system. Given the clear position of the UN Secretariat, and the trend among other development agencies to pay in full, Japan is in support of UNIDO’s full contribution to the UNRC cost sharing.
Japan places high importance on the principle of Zero Nominal Growth across all international organizations. We are of the view that the increase of the UNRC cost-share should be covered within existing resources, through further savings and efficiency gains. At the same time, we are fully aware of the paramount importance of securing UNIDO’s capacity for Technical Cooperation activities, and the need for reliable, predictable and sustainable funding.
The IDB is mandated with the adoption of the budget for submission to the General Conference. We wish to underscore the responsibility of Board Members to agree on the budget by consensus, in order to provide a sound financial basis to the Organization. We express our deep appreciation to H.E. Ambassador Maria Assunta Accili Sabbatini of Italy, for her tireless work as a facilitator of the inter-sessional consultations on the budget. The facilitator’s proposal reflects various perspectives expressed by Members in a well-balanced manner. We believe that this proposal provides us with a good basis for consensus on the budget at this IDB session. Japan stands ready to engage in further discussions in a constructive manner.
Mr. President,
In closing, I wish to assure you of our fullest support for the success of this IDB session. (END)
Thank you, Mr. President,
I would like to begin by congratulating your Excellency Ambassador Florensa Palau of Spain on your election as President of the forty-seventh session of the Industrial Development Board. I am sure that this session will be successful under your able leadership. I would also like to thank the outgoing Chair, H.E. Ambassador Mebarki of Algeria, together with the Bureau members, for their dedicated work.
Mr. President,
Japan commends UNIDO’s achievements in 2018 under the Director-General’s leadership. UNIDO has played a key role in promoting ISID and the implementation of the SDGs.
UNIDO is an important partner for Japan in the SDGs implementation. The G20 under Japan’s presidency, and the 7th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) both taking place this year, are excellent opportunities for Japan to further this partnership.
Concerning the G20 which took place in Osaka last week, we highly appreciate UNIDO’s contributions to this important meeting with the submission of two reports: one on Circular Economy, and the other on Industrial Development of Africa and LDCs. At the G20 Summit meeting, it was announced that the Government of Japan has decided to make additional contributions of approx. 2.2 million USD, to fund two new UNIDO projects, supporting African countries in tackling marine plastic litter issues. This expansion of cooperation to a new area shows our high expectations and trust in the Organization’s work.
Towards the forthcoming TICAD7 in Yokohama in August, further cooperation will be discussed. Japan will host a “Pre-TICAD7” event here at the VIC on 4 July, together with UNIDO and the African Union Commission. We look forward to the attendance of several high-level guests from African countries, and the discussion of important issues for African development, such as the promotion of innovation and private investment in the context of TICAD7. We aim at creating best synergies between TICAD7 and IDDA3. We strongly hope that many of you will join this event, after this IDB.
Mr. President,
Allow me to turn to the urgent issue of the programme and budget for the next biennium, 2020 - 2021.
First of all, Japan appreciates every effort made by DG Li Yong and the Secretariat to clarify the amount of UNIDO’s contribution the UN Resident Coordinator system. Given the clear position of the UN Secretariat, and the trend among other development agencies to pay in full, Japan is in support of UNIDO’s full contribution to the UNRC cost sharing.
Japan places high importance on the principle of Zero Nominal Growth across all international organizations. We are of the view that the increase of the UNRC cost-share should be covered within existing resources, through further savings and efficiency gains. At the same time, we are fully aware of the paramount importance of securing UNIDO’s capacity for Technical Cooperation activities, and the need for reliable, predictable and sustainable funding.
The IDB is mandated with the adoption of the budget for submission to the General Conference. We wish to underscore the responsibility of Board Members to agree on the budget by consensus, in order to provide a sound financial basis to the Organization. We express our deep appreciation to H.E. Ambassador Maria Assunta Accili Sabbatini of Italy, for her tireless work as a facilitator of the inter-sessional consultations on the budget. The facilitator’s proposal reflects various perspectives expressed by Members in a well-balanced manner. We believe that this proposal provides us with a good basis for consensus on the budget at this IDB session. Japan stands ready to engage in further discussions in a constructive manner.
Mr. President,
In closing, I wish to assure you of our fullest support for the success of this IDB session. (END)