Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Commerce & Industry

02-February-2012 14:50 IST

DG UNIDO calls on Anand Sharma

Mr Kandeh K. Yumkella, Director-General, The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) met the Union Minister of Commerce, Industry and Textiles, Shri Anand Sharma here today. During the Meeting Shri Sharma assured the DG about the continued support of government of India for UNIDO initiatives. The Minister briefed the UNIDO head about India’s renewed focus on manufacturing. He told him about the National Manufacturing Policy target of taking the share of Manufacturing to above 25 per cent. “UNIDO’s country programme should take into account the focus and emphasis on manufacturing“ said Shri Sharma. The Indian Minister told that Indian industrial development has identified manufacturing, cluster approach and ungradation of infrastructure as the growth drivers.

Both the leaders emphasized the need to strengthen south-south cooperation and discussed the ways in which the Indian experience can help the least developed nations, especially in Africa. Shri Sharma briefed the DG about the Indian initiatives in Africa in the fields of capacity building, health and IT.

DG said that there is a need to go beyond the paradigm of aid money to bring about the structural transformation. He emphasized that India along with countries of South should have deeper debate on what constitutes poverty reduction and wealth creation. The DG also invited Shri Sharma to Vienna to address the UNIDO board.

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DS/gk

Manufacturing policy focus prompts continued government support for industrial development and enhanced south-south cooperation with UNIDO engagement. The Minister confirmed governmental support for UNIDO initiatives and requested that UNIDO's country programme reflect India's manufacturing emphasis, highlighting manufacturing-led growth, cluster development and infrastructure upgradation as key industrial drivers; both parties stressed south-south cooperation and capacity building for least developed countries, while UNIDO advocated moving beyond aid paradigms toward structural transformation.