Agric, Key To Africa’s Development – UNIDO

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) says agriculture is a key sector for Africa’s development and prosperity.
UNIDO’s Managing Director, Corporate Services and Operations, Yuko Yasunaga, made this known recently while speaking on behalf of its Director-General, Gerd Müller, at a virtual side event organised by UNIDO and the African Union Commission (AUC), titles,  “Building Resilient and Sustainable Agro Industries: Enhancing Africa’s Agricultural Potential”.
Yasunaga said UNIDO, as the lead agency for implementing the Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (IDDA III) initiative, was committed to the continent’s industrialisation.
He expressed appreciation over the role played by Japan in Africa’s development and Japan’s active collaboration with UNIDO.
The Head of Industry at the AUC Department of Trade and Industry, Hussein Hassan, highlighted the need to build resilient and sustainable agro industries.
“This is vital to enhance Africa’s ability to drive structural transformation and achieve the overarching objective of feeding its 1.3 billion people,” he said.
Hassan commended Japan-Africa relations under the TICAD process and UNIDO’s role in accelerating industrial development.
He called on the partners to support the African Union Summit on Industrialisation and Economic Development slated for Niger State in November.
The summit is to provide an international platform to devise new strategic policies, resource mobilisation, and innovative partnerships, as well as play a key role in agro-industrial development of the continent.
The event was held on the sidelines of the recent Eighth Tokyo International Conference on Africa’s Development (TICAD8), led by the Government of Japan.