Vienna, 25 February 2026 – The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna jointly organized a kick-off ceremony today to mark the start of six new Japan-funded projects supporting inclusive and sustainable industrial development.
Opening the event, UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller and Ambassador of Japan Atsushi Kaifu highlighted the long-standing and strategic partnership between Japan and UNIDO.
Director General Müller thanked Japan for its “firm commitment to supporting partner countries through UNIDO’s expertise and the know-how of its private sector”. He praised Japan as UNIDO’s largest governmental funding partner, having provided more than 216 million US-dollars of voluntary contributions over the past five years.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Kaifu said, “The six new projects align with the UNIDO priorities under the leadership of Director General Müller, including advancing agro-industries and local value addition to end hunger. We extend our sincere appreciation for the tireless efforts of the project managers and look forward to their continued vital role within UNIDO, both now and in the future.”
Representatives from the partner countries — The Gambia, India, Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa, Thailand and Ukraine — joined the event online and in person, underscoring their shared commitment to tripartite cooperation in addressing challenges faced by communities in need.
Kick-off ceremony marking the start of six new Government of Japan-funded projects supporting inclusive and sustainable industrial development
Project managers introduced the six new projects funded by Japan’s supplementary budget, each designed to address a range of development priorities.
In Djibouti, a new fisheries value chain initiative will strengthen post-harvest preservation and cold-chain systems to reduce losses and improve food security. In Ethiopia, a skills development project will enhance agricultural mechanization and rice productivity through vocational training and collaboration with private companies.
In The Gambia, a solar-powered, flood-resilient cold chain model will support climate adaptation and industrial resilience efforts and reduce climate vulnerability as well as post-harvest losses in riverine communities. In Kenya’s Turkana region, emergency skills training will promote job creation and digital entrepreneurship, while supporting refugee-hosting communities through income-generating activities.
In addition to a seminar with ITPO Tokyo aimed at attracting investment, Mauritian and Japanese companies will participate in a knowledge exchange initiative designed to strengthen private sector collaboration on plastic circular economy solutions. Meanwhile, in Thailand, an integrated arsenic management project will enhance monitoring systems and demonstrate cost-effective decontamination measures in affected Northern provinces.
Head, UNIDO ITPO Tokyo Fumio Adachi, Ambassador of Japan Atsushi Kaifu, UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller and Deputy to the Director General and Managing Director Yuko Yasunaga
Following the six project presentations, Yuko Yasunaga, Deputy to the Director General and Managing Director, provided an update on the “Green industrial recovery project for Ukraine through technology transfer from and co-creation of new businesses with Japan’s private industries”. Fumio Adachi, Head of the UNIDO Investment and Technology Promotion Office in Tokyo, spoke on recent developments in the implementation of the “Industrial cooperation programme in the Global South through technology transfer from Japan”.
The ceremony underscored the continued commitment of UNIDO and Japan to advance inclusive and sustainable industrial development worldwide. Together they aim to empower communities, strengthen economies and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
