UNIDO celebrating it’s the 50th Anniversary at a Creativity Show

24 November, 2016

VIENNA, 22 November 2016 – Today, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) celebrated its 50th anniversary by showcasing the achievements and results of UNIDO’s work in the field of upgrading and cultural and creative industries at an event entitled “Creativity Show: New stories of old traditions from Armenia and the Southern Mediterranean Cultural and creative industries and innovation towards a sustainable future” that was held at the UNIDO Headquarters, based in Vienna.

More than 300 high-level participants from UNIDO Member States, CEOs of private sector companies, Heads of International Organizations and other honorable guests invited by UNIDO’s Director General, including many high-level representatives from the public and private sector, academia, media representatives and the civil society attended this event.

The event set a new approach for presentation of project results by organizing a unique show of the creative collections developed in Armenia, Madagascar, Tajikistan, and the Southern Mediterranean with the support of UNIDO’s technical cooperation. Garment collections developed in Armenia and Jordan with accessories from Lebanon, Egypt and Algeria were presented, while other products such as designer furniture, tableware, decoration, jewelry and accessories from the supported companies of Tajikistan and the Southern Mediterranean region were also displayed at a special exhibition booth. The event was also marked by congratulatory remarks and addresses by representatives of the sponsor of the reception, Ms. Rosalind (Roz) l. Hudnell, President of Intel Foundation, Donors of the presented UNIDO projects, including H. E. Ambassador Vladimir Voronkov, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to UNIDO, H. E. Ambassador Maria Assunta Accili Sabbatini, Permanent Representative of Italy to UNIDO, and Mr. Servatius Van Thiel Minister Counsellor, Delegation of the European Union to the International Organizations in Vienna. Representatives of the UNIDO project beneficiary countries and enterprises also expressed their appreciation, including H. E. Ambassador Arman Kirakossian, Permanent Representative of Armenia to UNIDO, noting that “UNIDO project has achieved significant results towards improving productivity, enhancing their competitiveness and export capacities, while also creating new jobs, especially for youth and women. Thanks to this project, in a very short period of time, Armenian producers were able to access new export market, establish new contracts with producers and retailers of manufactured goods”. Ms. Dina Maqdah, Fashion designer and manager at the Garment Design and Training Services Center (GSC) in Jordan, whose first capsule collection was demonstrated at the event, noted that “I am taking key learnings from every local and international creative experience and applying them to my daily work in the Jordanian garment and fashion industry to advance local clothing factories”.

The UNIDO projects showcased at this unique event share a common goal, which is to foster innovation in traditional industries with the objective of adding value to cultural heritage and traditional know-how, while modernizing the industry and providing access to new markets, and creating jobs.

Additional information (to be included in the press release):

The UNIDO project entitled “Creative Mediterranean”, funded by the European Union and Italy, supports the development of 13 creative clusters in seven countries of the Southern Mediterranean, including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan. Within the project, each country’s specific cultural and creative identity is enriched in order to add value to the wide range of creative and productive realities in the area, and create linkages with international markets - from Europe to the Gulf countries.

UNIDO is also assisting Armenia in revitalizing its clothing industry through the project “Improving Competitiveness of Export-oriented Industries in Armenia through Modernization and Market Access”, a project funded by the Russian Federation. The objective aims to revive industrial linkages of the Armenian shoe and garment producers within the regional value chains (especially within the Eurasian Economic Union) by enhancing productivity and competitiveness of the sectors, promoting business networking and institutional partnerships between local shoe and garment producers, developers (design, modelling), exporters and marketing agencies and their associations.

Similarly, with joint support of the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China, UNIDO is contributing improvement of productivity and competitiveness of Tajik enterprises operating in the carpet-weaving and embroidery/textile sectors through capacity building of national experts and business support institutions in design of final products, enterprise upgrading and technological modernization, as well as introduction of innovative marketing tools.

Supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the project TSARA II aims at increasing the competitiveness of the artisanal communities along value chains by adopting a market driven approach while strengthening in a sustainable way youth and artisans’ capacity for the creation and the marketing of new products.

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