N News

SHANGHAI, 5 NOVEMBER 2023 – As part of the 6^th China International Import Expo (CIIE), UNIDO and the Ministry of Commerce of China jointly organized the Parallel Session of the Sixth Hongqiao International Economic Forum, titled “Promoting International Cooperation and Innovation in Industrial Parks – Exploring a New Frontier of Sustainable Industrialization”. The Session highlighted the pivotal role of industrial parks as a highly effective model for achieving sustainable development through international collaboration. This collaboration placed particular emphasis on South-South cooperation while harnessing the transformative potential of innovation hubs, all of which contribute significantly to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The event brought together high-level representatives from UNIDO, governments, financial institutions, academia and enterprises, who engaged in dialogues, exchanged experiences and displayed best practices that demonstrate how industrial parks promote the transformation and elevation of the local economy.

The opening of the session was marked by Wang Shouwen, Vice Minister of Commerce of China, expressing appreciation for UNIDO's role in facilitating knowledge transfer for industrial parks using the South-South cooperation approach. He also highlighted the achievements that China has realized through the development of industrial parks.

Fatou Haidara, Deputy to the Director General of UNIDO, underscored the longstanding history of cooperation between UNIDO and China, especially in the domains of South-South cooperation, international trade, and the exchange of best practices. “Industrial parks are more than just geographical locations with shared infrastructure. They represent opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and mutual progress.” added the Deputy to the Director General.

At the session, UNIDO launched a comprehensive package of E-learning courses, which cover the entire industrial park life cycle, showcasing UNIDO's dedication to the field; as well as the “Bridge for Cities Innovation Compendium”, underscoring the pivotal role of industry-urban integration in today's evolving landscape. By bringing these two knowledge products to CIIE, UNIDO emphasizes the importance of international cooperation and partnerships in confronting global issues.

The event also featured a panel discussion with experts from UNIDO, the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges, Center for International Economic and Technological Cooperation, China Federation of Industrial Economics, Mindanao Development Authority of the Philippines, Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area, GIZ, Huawei, Peking University, and the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation. The panel discussion revolved around the theme of "Industrial Parks as Engines for International Cooperation and Economic Collaboration and Driving Innovation through Industrial Parks.