Statement by H.E. Mr. Mitsuru Kitano, Permanent Representative, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan at the 32nd Session of the Programme and Budget Committee for the UNIDO
2016/6/21
[Agenda Item 4: Report of the External Auditor for 2015]
Mr. Chairman,
I would like to begin by congratulating you on your election as Chair of the thirty-second session of the PBC. I am sure that this session will be successful under your able leadership. I would also like to thank the outgoing Chair, Ambassador Pilar Saborío de Rocafort, together with her Bureau, for their dedicated work.
My appreciation also goes to the External Auditor Mr. Kay Scheller for his diligent work on the report on the accounts of UNIDO for the financial year 2015. We hope that UNIDO will continue to make its best efforts to follow up on his recommendations, including strengthening the internal oversight which is essential for assuring the quality of organizational activities.
Mr. Chairman,
This year marks the commencement of the 2030 agenda, and the 50th anniversary of UNIDO. Japan recognizes UNIDO’s key role in implementing the 2030 agenda and commends the Organization’s policy engagement in promoting Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (ISID). Furthermore, we praise UNIDO’s fund mobilization efforts for technical cooperation activities which have led to a notable result for the year 2015.
In this context, allow me to briefly touch upon our contributions towards UNIDO’s activities.
In the past 5 years, the Government of Japan has funded technical cooperation projects through UNIDO worth over 30 million US Dollars. This year Japan disbursed over 12 million US Dollars in voluntary contributions. As has been mentioned by DG Li Yong, our financial situation is not easy. However, we are convinced that such contribution to UNIDO is of great significance. The project’s objectives ranged from supporting the social stabilization of vulnerable communities focusing on women and youth in Africa and the Middle East, to increasing access to sustainable energy by means of low-carbon low emission technology transfer. We are pleased that Japanese technology is also contributing to technical cooperation activities through UNIDO as a platform for donor-recipient partnerships.
Furthermore, I have the pleasure to share that Director-General Li Yong’s recent visit to Japan was a great success. We hope that the TICAD VI in Kenya this August will render significant opportunities for collaboration based on the perspectives elaborated during his visit. The TICAD has made remarkable contributions to Africa’s development and we look forward to further achievements of this unique process in the future.
Mr. Chairman,
Turning to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, Japan reiterates the importance of a sound organizational base in order to tackle this challenge. We hope that implementation of the field policy action plan will lead to a more optimal utilization of available resources, and will produce tangible outcomes when it comes to delivering not only a large number of projects, but also ensuring their continuous high quality.
In this connection, we must not forget that a sound financial base of the Organization grounded on the regular budget is essential. Japan thus supports the Secretariat in urging Member States and former Member States that have not yet paid their assessed contributions to do so without delay, in the interest of all.
Moreover, the withdrawal of Member States remains a serious concern from the viewpoint of universality and financial management of the Organization. We strongly advise UNIDO to act with urgency to thwart and reverse this alarming trend.
Last but not least, Japan attaches great importance to a sound management of the Organization. Setting indicators for monitoring and reporting in the Medium-term Programme Framework will assist UNIDO in planning and managing its activities in a transparent, effective and efficient manner. We would accordingly like to request expeditious finalization of the baselines for the proposed indicators.
Mr. Chairman,
I would like to conclude by reaffirming Japan’s ongoing commitment to the Organization and its industrial development activities. We will continue to offer our constructive partnership to the Organization in identifying and formulating the best way forward and working “together for a sustainable future” in this commemorative year.
Thank you very much.
Mr. Chairman,
I would like to begin by congratulating you on your election as Chair of the thirty-second session of the PBC. I am sure that this session will be successful under your able leadership. I would also like to thank the outgoing Chair, Ambassador Pilar Saborío de Rocafort, together with her Bureau, for their dedicated work.
My appreciation also goes to the External Auditor Mr. Kay Scheller for his diligent work on the report on the accounts of UNIDO for the financial year 2015. We hope that UNIDO will continue to make its best efforts to follow up on his recommendations, including strengthening the internal oversight which is essential for assuring the quality of organizational activities.
Mr. Chairman,
This year marks the commencement of the 2030 agenda, and the 50th anniversary of UNIDO. Japan recognizes UNIDO’s key role in implementing the 2030 agenda and commends the Organization’s policy engagement in promoting Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (ISID). Furthermore, we praise UNIDO’s fund mobilization efforts for technical cooperation activities which have led to a notable result for the year 2015.
In this context, allow me to briefly touch upon our contributions towards UNIDO’s activities.
In the past 5 years, the Government of Japan has funded technical cooperation projects through UNIDO worth over 30 million US Dollars. This year Japan disbursed over 12 million US Dollars in voluntary contributions. As has been mentioned by DG Li Yong, our financial situation is not easy. However, we are convinced that such contribution to UNIDO is of great significance. The project’s objectives ranged from supporting the social stabilization of vulnerable communities focusing on women and youth in Africa and the Middle East, to increasing access to sustainable energy by means of low-carbon low emission technology transfer. We are pleased that Japanese technology is also contributing to technical cooperation activities through UNIDO as a platform for donor-recipient partnerships.
Furthermore, I have the pleasure to share that Director-General Li Yong’s recent visit to Japan was a great success. We hope that the TICAD VI in Kenya this August will render significant opportunities for collaboration based on the perspectives elaborated during his visit. The TICAD has made remarkable contributions to Africa’s development and we look forward to further achievements of this unique process in the future.
Mr. Chairman,
Turning to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, Japan reiterates the importance of a sound organizational base in order to tackle this challenge. We hope that implementation of the field policy action plan will lead to a more optimal utilization of available resources, and will produce tangible outcomes when it comes to delivering not only a large number of projects, but also ensuring their continuous high quality.
In this connection, we must not forget that a sound financial base of the Organization grounded on the regular budget is essential. Japan thus supports the Secretariat in urging Member States and former Member States that have not yet paid their assessed contributions to do so without delay, in the interest of all.
Moreover, the withdrawal of Member States remains a serious concern from the viewpoint of universality and financial management of the Organization. We strongly advise UNIDO to act with urgency to thwart and reverse this alarming trend.
Last but not least, Japan attaches great importance to a sound management of the Organization. Setting indicators for monitoring and reporting in the Medium-term Programme Framework will assist UNIDO in planning and managing its activities in a transparent, effective and efficient manner. We would accordingly like to request expeditious finalization of the baselines for the proposed indicators.
Mr. Chairman,
I would like to conclude by reaffirming Japan’s ongoing commitment to the Organization and its industrial development activities. We will continue to offer our constructive partnership to the Organization in identifying and formulating the best way forward and working “together for a sustainable future” in this commemorative year.
Thank you very much.
The Practical Export Control Workshop was hosted by the Wassenaar Arrangement as part of its 20th Anniversary programs and held at the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna on 27 and 28 June 2016. More than 100 government representatives from 46 countries participated in the technically focused Practical Workshop.
Workshop speakers included the 2016 WA Plenary Chair Ambassador Anu Laamanen (Finland), 2016 WA General Working Group Chair Ambassador Paul Beijer (Sweden), 2015-2016 WA Experts Group Chair Robertas Rosinas (Lithuania), 2016 WA Licensing and Enforcement Officers Meeting Chair Jon Erik Strömö (Norway), as well as the Head of the WA Secretariat, Ambassador Philip Griffiths. The WA control lists as well as export licensing and enforcement topics were covered during the two days.
The following link from WA’s webpage contains more details:
http://www.wassenaar.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/June-2016-Workshop-media-release.pdf
Workshop speakers included the 2016 WA Plenary Chair Ambassador Anu Laamanen (Finland), 2016 WA General Working Group Chair Ambassador Paul Beijer (Sweden), 2015-2016 WA Experts Group Chair Robertas Rosinas (Lithuania), 2016 WA Licensing and Enforcement Officers Meeting Chair Jon Erik Strömö (Norway), as well as the Head of the WA Secretariat, Ambassador Philip Griffiths. The WA control lists as well as export licensing and enforcement topics were covered during the two days.
The following link from WA’s webpage contains more details:
http://www.wassenaar.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/June-2016-Workshop-media-release.pdf