Statement by Ambassador Tsutomu Osawa, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan, at the 41st Session of the Industrial Development Board of UNIDO

Madam Chair,

I would like to begin by congratulating you on your election as Chair of the forty-first session of the Industrial Development Board, along with your bureau members. I am confident that this session will prove to be successful under your able guidance and commitment. I would also like to thank the outgoing Chairman, H.E. Ambassador CSUDAY of Hungary, for his devoted work.

Madam Chair,

Japan appreciates the efforts made by UNIDO and its staff during 2012 to improve the overall performance of UNIDO and to achieve its goals despite　budgetary constraints. We congratulate UNIDO for the positive trend seen in the volume of funding received for its activities. In this regard, we stress the importance of having a diversified donor base and welcome UNIDO’s initiatives towards this goal.

Japan also applauds the Organization for reaching a record-high of $189.2 million in technical cooperation delivery in the year 2012. At the same time, the sustainability of this rapid growth, while the regular budget remains at the same level or is even reduced, needs to be carefully assessed, with a view to ensuring qualitative technical cooperation services in future years.

We would like to also note that one important factor that contributes to the continuity and success of UNIDO’s projects is the creation of new partnerships, and the strengthening of already existing ones with other UN organizations, the private sector and NGOs, especially in the field. We look forward to seeing this enhanced in the future.

Japan encourages UNIDO to further focus on niche areas where it has a comparative advantage hence creating value added. Japan’s ongoing cooperation activities with the Organization illustrate our understanding of the strength of UNIDO’s work and the need to fulfill the mandate bestowed upon the Organization by its members.

In the field of productive capacity building, Japan is cooperating with UNIDO in various projects in Africa and Asia, one aim of which is to give vulnerable members of society, such as young people and women, the skills to become self-sustainable. In the area of trade capacity building and cooperation with the private sector, one of Japan’s biggest retailers, AEON, and UNIDO have launched a programme that aims to increase the certified and sustainable sourcing of products and to improve business links with local suppliers in Malaysia. Turning to the field of low-carbon growth, I would like to highlight Japan’s most recent contribution through the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to the realization of a collaboration program with the aim of assisting developing countries, with a special focus on Africa. We had the honor to receive Director-General Yumkella in Japan at the 5th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) earlier this month along with other dignitaries, where the quality growth issue and the role of private sector as engines of development in Africa were discussed.

Now turning to financial issues briefly, Japan takes note of the financial situation of the Organization and appreciates the efforts being made by Member States in servicing their financial obligations. Japan urges Member States and former Member States that have not yet paid their assessed contributions to do so without delay, for the sake of the financial stability of the organization, and to ensure the smooth continuation of UNIDO’s activities, which is in the interest of all..

Thank you.