UNIDO to shift focus to private sector in Pakistan
The director general of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Carlos Alfredo Magarinos, has spoken about the possible expansion of the agency’s activities in Pakistan during a visit to the country.
The government of Pakistan had invited Mr Magarinos to visit the country to explore future expansion. While suggesting the current $7 million programme could be increased, he encouraged the private sector to identify concrete problems that could be helped by UNIDO's assistance.
He was speaking at a meeting held with Mr. Iftikhar Ali Malik, president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry and members of the business community at Federation House, Karachi.
According to a statement issued after the meeting, Mr Magarinos said the future focus of UNIDO in Pakistan would mainly be on the transfer of technology in the areas of environment, quality standards and limited industrial sectors such as leather, textiles, fisheries, fruits and vegetable and jewellery.
He also promised that UNIDO would extend assistance for the establishment of an effluent treatment plant and a solid waste management plant in Sindh, emphasising that UNIDO was interested in providing funds for facilities that could help small and medium sized enterprises to utilise modern technology.
