World
G77 and China call for a “Fourth decade of industrial development in Africa” and call on UNIDO to bridge the “digital divide”
DISCOVER MOROCCO
The Ambassador Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to International Organizations in Vienna, Mr. Azzam El Farhan, affirmed, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China during the 21st General Conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in Riyadh, that the group welcomed the call for the proclamation of a Fourth Decade for industrial development in Africa. style= »font-family: « Times New Roman »; font-weight: normal; »> The G77 and China urged development partners and donors to support UNIDO’s activities, including through the creation of public-private partnerships, to implement industrial development projects on the continent. The group, which includes 134 countries from Africa, Latin America and Asia, also called for bridging the digital divide between countries and industries to ensure acceleration of progress of industrial development in developing countries
The G77 believes that the diffusion of digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) can enable rapid transformations and accelerate progress, The group insisted that « UNIDO continues to focus on supporting developing countries and ensuring that no one is left behind by the artificial intelligence revolution »
Mr. El Farhan stressed that UNIDO initiatives and programs should focus on: promoting digitalization and innovation, increasing employment opportunities, strengthening economic competitiveness, food security, advocating for fair and sustainable supply chains, intensifying industrial localization, and protecting environment Finally, the group encouraged UNIDO to strengthen its efforts to boost industrial diversification and agricultural production, including by facilitating investments in infrastructure, mechanization and the adoption of modern technologies,
The G77 also praised the organization’s role in facilitating access to finance and clean and innovative technologies for a transition affordable and fair towards renewable energies.
