UNIDO Director General LI Yong concluded his 5th official mission to Japan from 15-18 April 2018 where he successfully held several bilateral meetings with the Government of Japan and the Japanese private sector, and also adressed several high level events.

TOKYO, 17 April 2018 – Director General LI participated in a breakfast meeting with the members of the lower house, Hideki Makihara and Karen Makishima. DG LI expressed that Japan was the most important partner for UNIDO. UNIDO was responsible for the implementation of “The Third Industrial Development of Africa” (IDDA III), corresponding with the TICAD process which the Japanese government is promoting. DG LI also stated that UNIDO hoped to deepen its relationship with Japan to promote industrial development in Africa. 

TOKYO, 17 April 2018 – Director General LI met with the Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry, Masaki Ogushi, to discuss ongoing programmes such as the Low Carbon Low Emission Clean Energy Technology Transfer (LCET) Programme recently extended to Morocco or the geothermal power programme in Africa, as well as ideas for further cooperation.

TOKYO, 17 April 2018 – Director General LI congratulated Hiroaki Ishizuka on his recent appointment as Chairman of the New Energy and Industrial Development Organization (NEDO) and welcomed the cooperation with NEDO since 2013.

TOKYO, 17 April 2018 – Director General LI delivered an opening statement at the fifth Japan-UNIDO Multi-stakeholder Cooperation Dialogue, and used several examples from UNIDO’s project portfolio to underline the relevance of the Organization’s activities for the priorities of the Government of Japan.

TOKYO, 17 April 2018 – Director General LI met with Masaya Futamiya, Chair of the Committee on Corporate Behaviour and Social Responsibility at the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren). Futamiya also delivered a special address at the Japan-UNIDO Multi-stakeholder Cooperation Dialogue during which he presented a perspective on the SDGs from the Japanese private sector.

TOKYO, 18 April 2018 – UNIDO has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japanese mercury waste management company, Nomura Kohsan. Director General LI and Nomura Kohsan President Yasushi Fujiwara agreed to enhance and strengthen cooperation between the two parties in the area of sustainable management of mercury waste. (Read the press release here)

TOKYO, 18 April 2018 – Director General LI visited the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST Tokyo Waterfront), and was briefed about the newest developments in robotics and artificial intelligence.

TOKYO, 18 April 2018 – Director General LI met Kazuhiko Koshikawa, Executive Senior Vice President, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and discussed support to small and medium-sized enterprises and preparations for the Tokyo International Conference of African Development (TICAD) VII.

TOKYO, 18 April 2018 – Director General LI gave opening remarks at the Japan launch of the Industrial Development Report 2018 held at the United Nations University. This most recent edition of UNIDO’s flagship report series focuses on demand for manufacturing.

TOKYO, 18 April 2018 – Director General LI met with Yasuhiko Yokoi, Chairman of the Africa-Japan Relations Committee at Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives), and Executive Vice President of Toyota Tsusho Corporation, to discuss options for future cooperation in support of industrialization in Africa.