The Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka, Rishad Bathiudeen visited Vienna, Austria from 3rd to 6th November at the invitation of Mr. LI Yong, Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The Minister was a discussant at the Forum on Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (ISID) which took place at the Vienna International Centre, during which he highlighted the substantial progress achieved by Sri Lanka in the area of sustainable development under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, stressing that the country was already moving in the direction of ISID, with several industries in specific sectors incorporating the concept.
The Minister also stated that Sri Lanka has formulated policies and programmes that could enable the achievement of ISID and has strengthened the existing institutions and created new ones, tasked with the implementation of those policies and programmes in a result oriented manner. He emphasised that the Ministry of Industry and Commerce continues to play a significant role in the overall promotion of Sustainable Industrial Development.
The Second ISID Forum was attended by Prime Minister Hailemariam Desale of Ethiopia, Prime Minister Mahammed Dionne of Senegal, Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon of the United Nations and Director General of UNIDO Li Yong as well as a large number of high ranking officials, Ambassadors, delegates, representatives of international organisations, the private sector and the media.
Minister Bathiudeen met Mr. Li Yong, Director General of UNIDO, Mr. Suleiman Jasir Al-Herbish, Director General of the OFEC Fund for International Development (OFID), Mr. Richard Schenz, Vice President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO), and Mr. Mouddar Khouja, Secretary General of the Austro – Arab Chamber of Commerce. During his meeting with officials of WKO the Minister discussed the possibility of a trade delegation from Sri Lanka visiting Austria in the second half of 2015. During his meeting with the Minister, Director General Li Yong commended Sri Lanka for its initiative and leadership within UNIDO, including the Presidency of the Industrial Development Board. The Minister discussed prospects for promotion of wind power energy and livelihood programmes in the former conflict areas of Sri Lanka.
The Minister also met with Hon. Amir Hossain Amu, Minister of Industries of Bangladesh, on the sidelines of the Forum. They agreed to promote industrial cooperation within SAARC, with the promotion of a possible cooperation framework between SAARC and UNIDO and Joint Statements on Industrial Cooperation.
Minister Rishard Bathiudeen was accompanied during discussions by Ambassador A.L.A. Azeez, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka, who chaired the UNIDO Donor Meeting preceding the Second ISID Forum on 03rd November 2014, and Mr. Nawodh Hennayake, Second Secretary.
Embassy & Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Vienna.
11th November 2014
