The UN Industrial Development Organization is advancing a vision of industrialisation that supports economic growth while safeguarding the environment and promoting social inclusion. Established in 1966 to help countries in the Global South develop their industrial capacity, UNIDO has evolved from a time when industry was widely viewed as inherently polluting to an approach that sees industrialisation as a broader process involving policy reform, institutional strengthening, and the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Speaking at the Global Industry Summit in Riyadh, UNIDO Managing Director Fatou Haidara reflected on how the organisation’s priorities have shifted over time. She emphasized that modern industrial development cannot be achieved in isolation and depends heavily on strong partnerships with governments and the private sector. UNIDO’s role, she explained, is to help governments create the right conditions for sustainable investment while encouraging industries to adopt technologies that align economic progress with environmental protection and poverty reduction.
Haidara also highlighted UNIDO’s commitment to supporting countries facing conflict and instability. In places such as Sudan, the organisation has chosen to continue its engagement, arguing that nations in crisis need development support the most. Even when direct operations are constrained, UNIDO works with governments to lay the groundwork for future industrial strategies, helping to prepare institutions and policies for eventual recovery and reconstruction.
Environmental considerations are now central to UNIDO’s work, but the organisation applies tailored approaches rather than uniform solutions. Strategies vary according to national circumstances, ranging from expanding access to energy in low-income countries to promoting decarbonisation and energy efficiency in heavily polluting industries elsewhere. Across all contexts, climate concerns are integrated into industrial planning in ways that reflect local needs and development stages, reinforcing UNIDO’s aim to achieve industrial growth that benefits both people and the planet.
