Ashraf AboArafe
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia won the hosting of the twenty-first session of the General Conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), which will be held in Riyadh during November 2025, after adopting a resolution unanimously among the organization’s 172 member states.
The Kingdom was chosen to hold this event during the General Conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in its 20th session, held in the Austrian capital, Vienna, with the participation of an official delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia headed by His Excellency the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Mr. Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, and a number of representatives. Government agencies and the Kingdom’s permanent delegation in Vienna.
On this occasion, His Excellency the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister – may God protect them – for the support they provide to the Ministry’s work to carry out its roles and achieve Its targets are in accordance with the aspirations of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
His Excellency praised the tireless diplomatic efforts to mobilize the support of the organization’s member states, which were carried out by the permanent delegation in Vienna, led by Ambassador and Permanent Representative Dr. Abdullah bin Khalid Toula, by holding intensive meetings and consultations with a number of state delegations and heads of regional groups, which resulted in consensus among the member states. .
His Excellency said: “The Kingdom’s victory to host the General Conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in its 21st session is an international recognition of the Kingdom’s position as an engine of economic growth and industrialization in the region, and an affirmation of its commitment to promoting industrial development around the world,” stressing that the Kingdom You will ensure that this conference is an exceptional and successful event on various levels.
He pointed out that holding this conference in the Kingdom is an opportunity to highlight the Kingdom’s pioneering role as a regional leader in basic and transformational industries, given its advanced industrial systems and strong regulatory and legislative capabilities that qualify it to lead and contribute to the development of the industrial development system in the Middle East region and internationally, stressing The Kingdom’s victory in this event reflects its influential political and economic weight on the international arena, which was finally represented by its victory to host the World Expo 2030.
He stressed that the Kingdom’s hosting of this important event will provide an opportunity to participate in expanding conversations about the future of global industry, strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a center for manufacturing and technology in the region, in addition to introducing the Kingdom’s industrial trends within the plans of the National Strategy for Industry, and highlighting the initiatives and procedures that the Kingdom provides to ensure growth. Sustainable growth in the industrial sector as one of the important strategic sectors in the map of diversifying economic resources in accordance with the goals of Vision 2030.
It is worth noting that the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is an international organization founded in 1966. It aims to promote industrial development in member countries, support small and medium industries, and enhance international cooperation in the field of industrial development. UNIDO provides support to its member states through four functions assigned to it: technical cooperation, action-oriented research, policy advisory services, and related activities. Standard standards, and strengthening partnerships for the transfer of knowledge and technology.
More than 1,500 are expected to participate in the general conference scheduled to be held in Riyadh in November 2025, including representatives of UNIDO member states, in addition to representatives of international organizations and the private sector.
