The Republic of Azerbaijan became a member of United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in 1993.
Ever since Azerbaijan has striven to promote the development of a long-term partnership with UNIDO and contribute to the transformation of the organization into a project-oriented structure that is capable of addressing emerging global development challenges.
Profound expertise and increased capacities of UNIDO as well as strong industrial development potential available in Azerbaijan provide a solid basis for strengthening and diversifying this cooperation.
The visit of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan H.E. Mr. Heydar Aliyev on July 5, 2000 to Austria and his meeting with UNIDO Director General H.E. Mr. Carlos Alfredo Magariños was an important milestone in developing our relations.
The Memorandum on Cooperation between UNIDO and Azerbaijan signed on July 5, 2000 provides the legal framework of this partnership. This document stipulates development of bilateral cooperation in the areas of environment, clean technologies, energy efficiency, technology transfer, SMEs development and quality and standardization. To date, a number of projects in these fields have been elaborated and are jointly being implemented.
The Agreement between UNIDO and Azerbaijan on payment of outstanding assessed contributions signed in November 2003 will also help benefit from the existing potential to develop this cooperation. Following the agreement, the voting rights of Azerbaijan were restored at the 10th General Conference of UNIDO held on December 1-5, 2003.
On
February 4, 2005 Director General of UNIDO H.E. Mr. Carlos Alfredo
Magariños was on an official visit to
Azerbaijan. In the course of his visit he met President of Azerbaijan
H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev, Deputy Prime-Minister H.E. Mr. Abid Sharifov,
a number of ministers and other high-ranking officials.
The Framework Program for cooperation between the Government
of Azerbaijan and UNIDO was signed and a roundtable with
representatives of the local business community was held on
the occasion of Magariños’ visit.
On July 11-15, 2005 representatives of UNIDO visited Azerbaijan. During the visit they met the country’s high-ranking officials and local business community and visited regions of Azerbaijan.
On June 26- July 1, 2006 representatives of UNIDO undertook a programming mission to Azerbaijan with the aim to elaborate specific projects in the field of agricultural production and food processing.
On October 9-13, 2006 representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Energy of Azerbaijan visited Vienna with the aim to discuss cooperation opportunities in the area of renewable energy.
Continued close involvement and participation of Azerbaijan in both decision-making bodies and operating structures of UNIDO is important for the country to be able to contribute to multiplied efforts of the international community towards implementation of global commitments enshrined in the Millennium Development Goals.