Day 1

Sharing practical knowledge and experiences to advance the 2030 Agenda

On the first day of the Forum, high-level policymakers and experts shared their practical knowledge and experiences, focusing on the key ingredients of industrial policy to drive progress towards the 2030 Agenda. UNIDO’s Director General Gerd Müller opened the event, and the keynote address was delivered by Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University.

Opening Segment and Keynote Address

The MIPF’s First Edition commenced with a welcome address by Cristiano Pasini, Director of the Division of Capacity Development, Industrial Policy Advice and Statistics, who emphasized the Forum’s role as a collaborative space for Member States to share knowledge and build partnerships to achieve inclusive and sustainable industrial development aligned with the 2030 Agenda. UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller called for a fair globalization deal, urging substantial investments in infrastructure, jobs, education and technology.

Prof. Jeffrey Sachs delivered the keynote address, highlighting the unfairness in globalization, particularly in science and technology, rule-setting and financial disparities between rich and poor countries. He advocated for leveraging industrial policy to address market failures, with government and regional collaboration playing an essential role in large-scale transformations and infrastructure projects and in navigating global challenges.

High-level Segment on the Future of Industrial Policy

The COVID-19 pandemic and climate change crisis highlight the vulnerability of SDG progress.

Achieving structural transformations requires a substantial increase in financing, which currently disproportionately favours advanced economies.

Effective public policies hinge on active participation of all stakeholders, including the public and private sectors, academia and finance.

Regulatory tools and standards are essential for achieving successful decarbonization, energy transition, digitalization, innovation, infrastructure, gender equality and education and skills.

Transparent and accountable industrial policies require long-term planning, considerations of the country’s industrial capabilities; and distinguishing between policy design and implementation.

No country acting on its own can successfully address today’s challenges. Large-scale transformations are best achieved when underpinned by regional collaboration.

Purpose-oriented industrial policies aligned with the SDGs that maximize synergies with technology, innovation, energy, climate, education and gender policies are crucial to achieve sustainable and inclusive industrial development.

Incentivizing investments and exploring ‘conditionality’ can accelerate the large-scale transformations needed to achieve the SDGs.

Day 1

Opening Segment and Keynote Address

High-level Segment on the Future of Industrial Policy

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