EU and UNIDO join forces for inclusive and sustainable industrial development at the Global Industry Summit in Riyadh

05.12.2025 Press and information team of the Delegation to UN and OSCE in Vienna

The 2025 United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) 21^st General Conference, organised under the banner of the 1^st Global Industry Summit, was an excellent opportunity to further deepen the already extensive cooperation between the EU and UNIDO. Our collaboration enables us to address climate change, promote environmental sustainability, and adopt circular economy principles—all while keeping industrial sectors competitive and resilient in an increasingly complex global economy. The EU was represented by Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela and our Global Gateway initiative attracted a lot of interest.

The 21^st UNIDO General Conference took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from the 23 to 27 November 2025, which saw the re-appointment of UNIDO Director General Mr. Gerd Müller for his second four-year term, who described it as “a landmark event for UNIDO, the largest event ever […] with over 40 ministers and huge involvement from the private sector”, totalling in over 5,000 registered participants.

The EU was represented at high level with EU Commissioner Jozef Síkela, who delivered a keynote speech during the opening ceremony, emphasizing the role that the Global Gateway plays in inclusive and sustainable industrial development. “With Global Gateway, the EU aims for long-term, sustainable, and mutually beneficial partnerships. Partnerships of equals”, Síkela said.

H.E. Carl Hallergård, EU Ambassador to the International Organisations in Vienna, who delivered the EU Statement during the General Debate, stated that “The longstanding partnership between UNIDO and the European Union has continually deepened and expanded, based on a mutual understanding of the role that industry and the private sector play in creating wealth and quality employment”.

Additionally, the EU booth attracted a significant number of visitors interested in EU-UNIDO partnership throughout the week, including the Director General of UNIDO, Ambassadors, and other attendees. Participants had the opportunity to learn more about our joint work for inclusive and sustainable development, as detailed in the recently published report (add title and link to report).

Further, the EU Ambassador participated as a panellist in two side events, namely “The Energy-Industrialization Nexus in Africa” and “Powering Global Sustainable Industrial Development”.

The conference was structured around three thematic days – investment and partnerships, women’s empowerment, and generation future. During these three days four panel discussion took place under the umbrella Forum on industrial development issues with topics ranging from global value chains to mobilizing finance, and from empowering women to preparing the future of industrialization.

As gender equality and women’s empowerment is one of the EU’s top priorities, the EU proudly co-sponsored the related resolution on UNIDO, gender equality and the empowerment of women. As such, the EU celebrated the introduction of International Day for Women in Industry, which will be celebrated annually on the 21 April to honour women’s contributions towards inclusive and sustainable industrialisation.

The EU further welcomes the adoption of the Riyadh Declaration, as well as five other resolutions on the Vienna Ministerial Declaration for the Least Developed Countries, Gender, the Energy-Industrialization Nexus in Africa, Food Security, and Circular Economy. As a firm believer in circular economy, the EU proudly co-sponsored the resolution on UNIDO activities related to the environment, climate change, energy and circular economy.