Vanuatu Deputy PM elected Vice-President of 8th UNIDO conference

The event will be held in Abu Dhabi from 1-3 November, 2019.

Mr Napat has been invited by UNIDO to speak as one of the guest speakers on the theme of industrialization in the framework of Least Developed Countries (LDC) graduation and is expected to inform ministerial meeting on Vanuatu’s graduation strategy as a background towards the country’s graduation in 2020.

He is expected to lead one of the key panels established by the Director General of UNIDO in addressing the invisibility of Pacific Island countries in UNIDO especially the presence of UNIDO in the small island developing states.

While the role and function of UNIDO is very important towards supporting the industrial policy, the actual presence and impact of UNIDO in a number of Pacific Island countries including Vanuatu is very limited.

The Government of Vanuatu through the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is committed to renewing its solidarity with UNIDO and is willing to provide a platform where UNIDO’s Pacific regional programs can be tailored and designed to meet the country’s development needs and expectation.

Mr Napat is expected to hold bilateral discussions with the Director General of UNIDO Li Yong and his senior officials to discuss the Vanuatu Country Programme that was established by UNIDO in 2016 providing a road map where UNIDO’s technical assistance is coordinated on ground to support Vanuatu’s National Sustainable Development Programme (NSDP) efforts.

Mr Napat is also expected to hold discussions and consultation with various divisions of UNIDO with a view to intensify and increase their intervention in Vanuatu through the Office of UNIDO Focal Point at the Department of Industry.

This is the first visit of the Deputy Prime Minister abroad since taking his office at the end of May this year.

Photo supplied Caption: Deputy PM Jotham Napat