Africa Industrialization Day

to be marked around the world this 20 November 2013

The Africa Industrialization Day (AID) will be celebrated on 20 November all around Africa including Addis Ababa that host the Headquarters of the African Union, Vienna at the headquarters of UNIDO as well as in the UN in New York and Brussels. The theme this year is “Job Creation and Entrepreneurship Development: a means to accelerate industrialization in Africa”.

Job creation and entrepreneurship development represents a means to reduce poverty by empowering vulnerable communities and reinforce efforts towards a sustainable economic growth in Africa. The AID serves as an important occasion to reflect on the progress made and discuss the necessary efforts to achieve an inclusive and sustainable industrial development. Please see the following video on the issue and the forthcoming auditorium panel at the EDDs 2013 on Wednesday 27th November at 11:30-13:00 in Auditorium B at Tour & Taxis.

While youth and women are considered to be the driving force for social-economic development and innovation of our society, they are the ones who are most severely affected by a high rate of unemployment and underemployment.

In Brussels, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) will commemorate this event on 19 November with the African Union, African embassies, and the EU. There will be a message from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and a message by UNIDO Director General Li Yong read by Christophe Yvetot, Head of UNIDO Brussels Office and a joint message by the AU, UNECA and UNIDO, read by H.E. Mr. Ajay K. Bramdeo, Ambassador of the AU in Brussels.

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After an introduction by H.E. Mr. Ajay K. Bramdeo, Ambassador of the AU in Brussel, there will be a keynote speech on the theme of the day by Mr. Daniel Calleja Crespo, Director General of the Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry of the European Commission as well as presentation of a recent initiative by Togo to support Young Entrepreneurs, by Ambassador Kodjo Sagbo, Permanent Representative of Togo to the European Union.

Then two short briefings will follow on the forthcoming 5th EU-Africa Business Forum on 31 March-1 April 2014 by Mrs. Françoise Moreau, Head of the Africa Partnership and Peace Facility Unit, Devco, European Commission and on UNIDO activities in support of Africa, particularly the Strategy for the Accelerated Industrial Development of Africa (AIDA) and the Africa Agro-industry and Agribusiness Initiative (3ADI).     

The annual commemoration of the Africa Industrialization Day was mandated by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 44/237 of 22 December 1989.