ISLAMABAD
APP
A consultative workshop was launched by Federal Minister for Industries and Production Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi on Saturday which aimed at delineating a framework for future cooperation between the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the ministry to strategically address the revival of inclusive and sustainable industrialization in Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister stressed that alleviating poverty remains to be the goal of present government’s policy; Industry plays an important role in wealth and job creation for burgeoning economy.
Pakistan is striving hard to further strengthen industrial sector in future as a major source for achieving higher stage of economic and social development and aiming at promoting economic and industrial growth within a socially inclusive and environmental sustainable framework.
Therefore, the ministry strongly believe in promoting Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (ISID) so as to harness the full potential of industry’s contribution towards the economic growth.
Subsequently, we not only fully acknowledge and endorse the efforts of UNIDO but would also like to be the part of the process in cooperation with UNIDO. Hence the ministry is joining hands with UNIDO for the promotion of ISID and to chalk out future framework of cooperation.
Jatoi highlighted the need for addressing industrialization as a solitary goal in the forthcoming post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Adding the importance of industrialisation, MOI&P Secretary Raja Hasan Abbas highlighted that Pakistan has devised investment-friendly policies in order to reduce the cost, and enhance the ease of doing business.
Creation of various export processing zones, national industrial parks, industrial clusters and special economic zones are examples of such policies.
The UNIDO Representative to Pakistan, Esam Alqararah, addressing the forum, shared the UNIDO’s new vision for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (ISID), as reflected in Lima Declaration adopted by Member states, including Pakistan, at 15th Session of UNIDO General Conference held in December 2013.
Alqararah pin pointed the importance of industrialisation as an effective instrument for poverty reduction particularly with reference to the countries which achieved success through following ISID. He reiterated UNIDO’s commitment to further strengthen the cooperation with MOI&P and said that we in UNIDO are looking forward to contribute further, particularly, in the areas of creative industries, trade promotion, youth skills enhancement as well as sustainable environmental and energy initiatives.
The workshop concluded on the mutual understanding between UNIDO and MOI&P to further strengthen the existing cooperation and to look for new areas of technical support at policy, sectoral and entrepreneurial level which can then provide an enabling environment and platform for localizing Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development in Pakistan.
The workshop was attended by a large number of high ranking officials and dignitaries, from government institutions including allied departments of MOI&P, representatives from Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Commerce, Climate Change Division, Chambers of Commerce and industry and private sector stakeholders.
