UNIDO Chief Says "Very Satisfied" with Kuwait's Development Strategy

Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIODO) Li Yong expressed here on Wednesday the organization's satisfaction with the positive steps taken by the State of Kuwait towards development, expressing UNIDO's full support for such approach. "This is a big vision for the country to move ahead with employment, job creation, youth development programs for jobs and career development", said Yong, in an exclusive interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), during his visit to the country.

Yong said that he visited a number of government and private institutions where he learned a lot from their officials on how UNIDO can assist in the diversification of economy rather than depend on a sole source of income, which is oil.

He added that he developed a clear vision about importance of diversifying the Kuwaiti economy, and not depend on oil as a sole source of income, as well as developing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), accessing the markets, implementing an industrialization policy and acquiring latest state-of-art technology. The Kuwaiti Government has proven to have had a clear target towards career development which "it implements clearly," he told KUNA, adding that the SMEs development project was also "very focused and very clear" and "I am impressed by that."

The UNIDO chief elaborated by saying: "I put forward to the government officials UNIDO's appreciation to government's support for UNIDO's policy 'setting' and for the financial support of its activities and appreciate Kuwait's government's long term support of international development". He recalled the recently-held third pledging conference for aiding the Syrian people, which Kuwait hosted under auspices of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, saying that His Highness the Amir deserved the UN "Humanitarian Leader" title.

Yong stated that for many years, UNIDO had developed technical cooperation with various Kuwaiti ministries, adding that he was pleased to see the government offering facilities to traders, private SMEs and implementing plans for job creation for the youth.

He said the first phase of cooperation with Kuwait has been completed and UNIDO is looking forward for the initiation of the second phase and is committed to help Kuwait's government in its policies to diversify the economy, boosting SMEs development, career development and youth employment, not merely for sake of creating jobs, but also to educate the young people to develop their careers and be responsible persons for service of the broad national development strategy.

"Other countries in the region would like to replicate Kuwait's experience, " Yong asserted, commending great efforts and energetic spirit expressed by the State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah and Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and Minister of State for Planning Affairs Hind Al-Sabeeh, saying that they have expressed their clear vision towards the development of the youth sector.

"They are too dedicated to their job," he said He expressed thanks to the Ambassador of Kuwait in Vienna Sadeq Marafie for the great efforts done for making this trip a success. Yong's mission in Kuwait aimed at discussing with senior officials prospects of boosting mutual cooperation and bolstering an existing partnership to serve the Gulf country's higher development objectives.

Yong has been invited by the Government of Kuwait to discuss his vision of the Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (ISID) as well to explain the key role and contribution that Kuwait could play in the development and implementation of ISID programmes. He affirmed that UNIDO's efforts to aid Kuwait to diversify its economy and develop its private sector. UNIDO already provides technical assistance through an ongoing project that aims at strengthening export capacities of manufacturing SMEs in Kuwait, which is funded by the Public Authority for Industry.