UNCTAD/UNIDO investment alliance – Press release

UNCTAD AND UNIDO LAUNCH STRATEGIC INVESTMENT ALLIANCE

 New Era for UN Development Cooperation
                                              

  GENEVA,  26 March  (UNCTAD, UNIDO)  —  The  United Nations  Conference on
Trade and  Development (UNCTAD)  and United  Nations Industrial  Development
Organization  (UNIDO)  have   forged  a  new  strategic  alliance  to  boost
investment in developing countries. A  memorandum of understanding to ensure
cost effectiveness and optimal  use of official  development assistance  was
signed  in Geneva  today by  UNCTAD  Secretary-General Rubens  Ricupero  and
UNIDO Director-General Carlos Magarinos.

  The alliance  harnesses the two  organizations' comparative advantages  to
maximize  delivery of  services and  avoid  duplication,  as part  of United
Nations efforts to pool the resources of its agencies.

  While  UNIDO will  focus on  advice  and  assistance on  industrial sector
issues  and  investment  and  technology  promotion  support,  UNCTAD   will
concentrate on policy  issues affecting investment promotion, including  the
regulatory and institutional  framework for  investment. These  arrangements
will  also  include  the  formation  of  new  partnerships  between  the two
organizations and the private sector of industry.

  Joint  activities  will  take  place  at  the  country  and  global level.
Selected  from where UNIDO  or UNCTAD  is currently  involved in investment-
related  activities,  the initial  target countries/regions  are Bangladesh,
Bolivia,  Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic  Republic of the
Congo, Ecuador,  Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia,  Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Indonesia,   Mali,   Madagascar,   Mozambique,   Morocco,  Namibia,   Nepal,
Nicaragua, Niger, Pakistan, Peru,  Senegal, Togo, Uganda  and Uzbekistan, as
well  as the Palestinian  Authority and  West African  Economic and Monetary
Union.

  Both agencies  will strengthen  their support  for the  activities of  the
World Association of Investment  Promotion Agencies, which was set up at  an
international meeting under UNCTAD's auspices in April 1995.

  Areas for  cooperation include  preparation of  investment policy  reviews
and   guides;  development   of   regulatory   frameworks  for   investment;
organization  of investment and technology  forums and business  gatherings;

and promotion of technological innovation.

 …

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