BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 28. The 21st session of the General Conference of the UN Industrial Development Organization concluded in Riyadh with the issuance of the “Riyadh Declaration,” a landmark document outlining a unified global vision that promotes sustainable and inclusive industrial development, TurkicWorld reports via Arab News.
This step reflects the Kingdom’s leading role on the global industrial stage and its leadership of the global industrial development agenda, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The conference, held under the title “Global Manufacturing Summit,” was hosted by the Kingdom from Nov. 23 to 27.
It brought together ministers, policymakers, representatives of international organizations, and industry leaders from around the world for a week of fruitful discussions and decisions that will shape the future of global industry.
Participants commended the Kingdom’s excellent organization of the conference and its ability to align its outcomes with global industrial development priorities and the rapidly changing landscape of industrial transformation.
In his address during the closing session of the conference, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef expressed the Kingdom’s pride in hosting this historic industrial event, as well as his personal honor in chairing the proceedings of the 21st session of the UNIDO General Conference.
He said: “The spirit of partnership and cooperation was present in every discussion, negotiation, and decision, characterizing the conference from beginning to end. It highlighted what the international community can achieve when working as a single partner.
“The visions and ideas presented during the summit were inspiring, the negotiations were serious and constructive, and the conference’s recommendations reflected the member states’ determination to accelerate the pace of inclusive and sustainable industrial development.”
Alkhorayef described the declaration as an embodiment of the collective ambition of the participating countries and a guiding framework to help them address current challenges and seize future opportunities. He expressed his confidence that the momentum generated in Riyadh would translate into tangible results worldwide.
The unanimous agreement of member states on the “Riyadh Declaration” was the most significant achievement on the final day of the conference. The declaration focuses on strengthening international industrial cooperation and harnessing innovation, technology, and industrial modernization to address global challenges.
Among the conference’s key outcomes was the designation of April 21 as International Women in Industry Day, underscoring the pivotal role women play in shaping the future of industrial sectors. The conference recommended increasing women’s participation across all industrial sectors, expanding their leadership opportunities, and promoting equitable policies for social diversity, in addition to raising international recognition of women’s contributions through this initiative.
In this context, the Minister emphasized that no industrial future can be sustainable without the full and active participation of women. He affirmed that women’s ideas, leadership, and innovation are essential elements for building a more competitive and inclusive global economy. He added that the conference reaffirmed that empowering women in industry is not merely a social priority, but an economic imperative for fostering growth and sustainability.
Alkhorayef expressed his deep appreciation for the commitment of all participating delegations and the UNIDO leadership, particularly Director-General Gerd Müller.
He explained that the success of this session reflects the significant contribution of each delegation and partner involved in the preparations and constructive discussions. He commended the high level of professionalism and collaborative spirit demonstrated by the UNIDO teams, as well as the continuous support they provided to the Kingdom throughout the preparation and implementation phases.
Alkhorayef also highlighted the pivotal role of national institutions in the conference’s success, extending his gratitude to the Kingdom’s Permanent Mission to UNIDO and all sponsors and national partners whose ongoing efforts contributed to the successful organization of a conference of this scale and high standard.
