Since the 19th century, industrialisation has reshaped societies\u2014creating jobs, boosting productivity, and lifting millions out of poverty. Yet it has also fuelled environmental degradation, polluted air and water, and accelerated the climate crisis now threatening communities worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization<\/strong> (UNIDO), this destructive trajectory is not inevitable. With the right policies, technologies, and partnerships, industrial development can be inclusive, resilient, and environmentally sustainable<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking at the Global Industry Summit in Riyadh<\/strong>, Fatou Haidara<\/strong>, UNIDO\u2019s Deputy Director-General for Global Partnerships and External Relations, explained how the agency\u2019s mission has evolved as it approaches its 60th anniversary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When UNIDO was founded in 1966, industry was widely viewed as a major polluter and industrial policy carried negative connotations. Today, Haidara said, industrialisation is understood as a systemic process<\/strong>\u2014from policymaking and institutional capacity-building to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This complexity means no single actor can succeed alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe crucial element is partnerships,\u201d she said, highlighting collaboration with governments and the private sector to create the right conditions for sustainable investment and modern technologies.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n At the heart of UNIDO\u2019s work lies a dual imperative: protect the planet while lifting as many people as possible out of poverty<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike many institutions, UNIDO continues operating even in conflict-affected countries such as Sudan. Haidara stressed that these are precisely the situations where development support is most needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By working remotely with governments on industrial strategies and long-term planning<\/strong>, UNIDO helps lay the groundwork for recovery\u2014even when direct field operations are impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Environmental sustainability is central to UNIDO\u2019s approach, but Haidara emphasized that there is no one-size-fits-all solution<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Climate considerations are embedded across all strategies, adapted to each country\u2019s development stage and industrial profile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Responding to critics who question the relevance of UN institutions, Haidara argued that the UN is more necessary than ever<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are living in a rapidly changing world facing multiple crises. The UN is a neutral, multilateral platform where countries can talk to each other.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n UNIDO\u2019s unique strength, she added, lies in its ability to integrate economic growth, environmental protection, and social inclusion<\/strong>, drawing on six decades of global experience and best practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are not a humanitarian institution,\u201d Haidara concluded, \u201cbut we remain on the side of the people.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Since the 19th century, industrialisation has reshaped societies\u2014creating jobs, boosting productivity, and lifting millions out of poverty. Yet it has also fuelled environmental degradation, polluted air and water, and accelerated the climate crisis now threatening communities worldwide. According to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), this destructive trajectory is not inevitable. With the right […]\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1277,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[68],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1276","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-topics"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n\n\n\nFrom Pollution to Transformation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nSupporting Development Amid Conflict<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nTailored Climate-Smart Industrial Strategies<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nWhy UNIDO\u2014and the UN\u2014Still Matter<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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