President Macky Sall recognizes UNIDO’s Yumkella for his service on behalf of Africa
ADDIS ABABA, January 28, 2013 – Attending the 20th extraordinary summit of the African Heads of state currently taking place in Addis Ababa, Senegalese president Macky Sall has set time aside to meet with Kandeh K. Yumkella, Director General of the Vienna based UN Industrial Development Organization. (Photo: UNIDO DG Kandeh Yumkella and President Sall of Senegal pose for photos after their meeting)
President Sall, who has just been elected chairperson of the Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC), commended Dr. Yumkella for his outstanding leadership on the African continent as well as the global community.
Noting that Sierra Leone is really blessed to have Dr. Yumkella, Mr. Sall expressed his admiration for the UNIDO boss. “Sierra Leone is not the only nation that is proud of the work you do,” said Mr. Sall. “We are equally proud of the outstanding contributions you make continually on the continent and around the world through your organization, UNIDO.”
Deeply humbled by the kind words of his African brother and president, DG Yumkella promised to continue his support to the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) and to Senegal’s socio-economic development as Mr. Sall had earlier requested in his remarks.
President Sall of Senegal meets with UNIDO;s DG, Kandeh Yumkella
PIDA seeks to promote socio-economic development and poverty reduction in Africa through improved access to integrated regional and continental infrastructure networks and services.
“UNIDO has had a strong relationship with Senegal and we stand ready to continue this partnership in providing support in developing small and medium enterprises and agribusiness development,” said Yumkella stressing that Africa’s path to Sustainable Growth is through Agribusiness, Agro-Industries and Economic Diversification.
The HSGOC, a high level group comprising of twenty African leaders provides leadership and policy guidance to the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). It meets bi-annually on the fringes of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa to set priorities and programmes of action for NEPAD. President Sall replaces the late former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi who served in that capacity for four years until his death in August 2012.
Meanwhile, on the same day, the UN agencies operating at the African Union offices led by the office of the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa hosted a reception in honour of Dr. Yumkella’s service.
EU Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs chats with Sierra Leonean born Kandeh Yumkella
Other African leaders are scheduled to meet privately with Dr. Yumkella who is attending his last African Union summit as head of UNIDO. Appointed to two terms, Yumkella has been at the helm of UNIDO for 8 years, an organization he is preparing to leave after distinguished service.
He will lead a new UN development initiative, Sustainable Energy for All (UN-SE4ALL) as Special Representative of the UN Secretary General (SRSG) and the initiative’s chief executive officer.
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