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The
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
promotes industrial development by attracting private
investment and technology transfer to developing and transition
countries. Its action encompasses energy and environment
issues, and contributes to the Millennium Development Goals
by increasing productive employment and improving living standards.
UNIDO
Headquarters are located in Vienna, and Country, Regional and Desk
Offices are spread worldwide. In addition, UNIDO operates the
networks of Investment and Technology Promotion Offices (ITPOs),
Investment and Promotion Units (IPUs), National
Cleaner Production Centres (NCPCs) and International
Technology Centres (ITCs).
The
Italian Investment and Technology Promotion Office, ITPO Italy,
became operational in 1987
with the financial support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs – General Directorate of Development Cooperation. The
Office’s mandate is to enhance SMEs competitiveness in developing
countries through the transfer of technology and managerial skills
required for the implementation of industrial projects, as well as
support to access funds. These activities are expected to boost
employment and establish a competitive and environmentally sound
economy. Besides providing firms with services that range from
partner search to financial evaluation of investment projects, UNIDO
ITPO Italy also assists public Institutions.
The
range of services provided by the Office has been evolving over the
years, mainly as a result of increased relationships among
countries, and enhanced access to information and investment
opportunities. In particular, the Office’s activities have been
redirected towards supplying more specific products and services
such as custom-made country programmes, sectoral programmes, and
economic and technical feasibility studies of industrial cooperation
projects. Environmental and energy issues have become the target of
strategic policy interventions.
Besides being part of the ITPO network (with offices in Bahrain,
Brazil, China, Korea, France, Greece, Japan, Mexico, Russia, United
Kingdom, and Walloon Region of Belgium,), ITPO Italy also cooperates
closely with the IPUs in selected Mediterranean countries (Tunisia,
Morocco, Jordan, and Egypt). The IPUs are operational platforms that
promote and maintain industrial relations between Italy and the
Mediterranean area by facilitating direct contacts among enterprises
and, hence cooperation agreements. In addition, the IPU and ITPO
networks share a database, Exchange, jointly managed to
supply information on industrial projects to firms and institutions. |
