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The 21st Session of the UNIDO General Conference
09/10/2025
Riyadh
09:10 PM
Local Time
24.95°C
Weather
PM2.5
Air Quality
09/10/2025
Riyadh
09:10 PM
Local Time
24.95°C
Weather
PM2.5
Air Quality
To fully capitalize on the potential of the General Conference of UNIDO, its twenty first session will transform into the Global Industry Summit (GIS) 2025, taking place from 23 to 27 November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The General Conference is UNIDO’s supreme policymaking organ, convening all 173 Member States once every two years. The Conference defines the Organization’s guiding principles and policies, approves budgets and work programmes, and elects members of the Industrial Development Board and the Programme and Budget Committee. Every four years, the Conference appoints the Director General of UNIDO. The current President of the General Conference is Her Excellency Ms. Debora Lepre (Italy).
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UNIDO is a specialized United Nations agency with a unique mandate to accelerate sustainable industrial development, supporting developing countries and emerging economies in building and transforming their industries.
Our vision is to build a fair global economy, free from poverty and hunger, with peace and prosperity for all. Sustainable industrial development is a key driver of economic and social progress, creating jobs and income, ending hunger and poverty, reducing inequalities, limiting emissions, preserving ecosystems and protecting the planet for future generations.
Our mission: UNIDO promotes industries for development worldwide and advances all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with its mandate specifically aligned with SDG 9. UNIDO’s work is central to improving living standards and securing our common future.
Our Offer: UNIDO offers technical cooperation, policy advice and norms- and standards-related services. Additionally, UNIDO serves as a global platform for knowledge and technology transfer, fostering partnerships, synergies, innovations, and investments in developing countries. UNIDO works with a wide range of development actors and the private sector.
The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources (MIM) was established by Royal Decree No. (A/472) on 29/12/1440H (30/08/2019), marking a strategic shift in Saudi Arabia’s economic direction. Since its founding, the Ministry has overseen all responsibilities related to the industrial and mining sectors, advancing their development in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030. The Ministry leads Saudi Arabia’s efforts to build a diversified, sustainable industrial economy. With a mandate to empower local industries and attract global investment, the Ministry plays a key role in advancing the Kingdom’s industrial and mining strategy.
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The Investment and Partnership Day brings together global leaders, investors, innovators and policymakers. It will showcase pioneering initiatives and present cutting-edge digital solutions towards catalyzing action to harness the transformative potential of industries for development. The Investment and Partnership Day will feature high-level panels, fireside chats, and partnership ceremonies that will showcase AI solutions, tailored innovative financing models, including Islamic financing, and cutting-edge technologies in support of resilient supply chains and sustainable agribusiness.
The Investment and Partnership Day brings together global leaders, investors, innovators and policymakers. It will showcase pioneering initiatives and present cutting-edge digital solutions towards catalyzing action to harness the transformative potential of industries for development. The Investment and Partnership Day will feature high-level panels, fireside chats, and partnership ceremonies that will showcase AI solutions, tailored innovative financing models, including Islamic financing, and cutting-edge technologies in support of resilient supply chains and sustainable agribusiness.
The Women’s Empowerment Day convenes global government and business leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers to address structural barriers towards unlocking women’s full potential in industry. Furthermore, it will reinforce institutional commitment, catalyze multi stakeholder collaboration and build momentum for future initiatives, including the establishment of an International Day of Women in Industry. Also aiming at enabling policies to shape women’s roles in industrial transformation, it will showcase practical tools and proven strategies as well as offer access to a worldwide network of likeminded peers and stakeholders.
The Generation Future Day places youth at the forefront of sustainable industrial transformation, thus reflecting UNIDO and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s joint commitment to a green, digital, and inclusive industrial transformation powered by the future generation. It will empower young innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders to come together around strategic pillars including future-ready skills development, entrepreneurship and innovation, decent work, and youth inclusion in policy and governance.
High-level opening ceremony with Heads of State and Government, Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Industry, Economy and Finance, and business leaders. It is expected that over 3,000 delegates will participate and attend the exhibition and the cultural events as well as the evening reception.
09:00 - 16:00
2025-11-23
Opening of the 21st session of the UNIDO General Conference
The Investment and Partnership Day brings together global leaders, investors, innovators and policymakers. It will showcase pioneering initiatives and present cutting-edge digital solutions towards catalyzing action to harness the transformative potential of industries for development. The Investment and Partnership Day will feature high-level panels, fireside chats, and partnership ceremonies that will showcase AI solutions, tailored innovative financing models, including Islamic financing, and cutting-edge technologies in support of resilient supply chains and sustainable agribusiness.
09:00 - 17:00
2025-11-24
Investment and partnership: The future of industrialization - AI as a gamechanger
The Women’s Empowerment Day convenes global government and business leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers to address structural barriers towards unlocking women’s full potential in industry. Furthermore, it will reinforce institutional commitment, catalyze multi- stakeholder collaboration and build momentum for future initiatives, including the establishment of an International Day of Women in Industry. Also aiming at enabling policies to shape women’s roles in industrial transformation, it will showcase practical tools and proven strategies as well as offer access to a worldwide network of likeminded peers and stakeholders.
09:00 - 17:00
2025-11-25
Women's empowerment: Women's role in the future of industry and economy
The Generation Future Day places youth at the forefront of sustainable industrial transformation, thus reflecting UNIDO and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s joint commitment to a green, digital, and inclusive industrial transformation powered by the future generation. It will empower young innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders to come together around strategic pillars including future-ready skills development, entrepreneurship and innovation, decent work, and youth inclusion in policy and governance.
09:00 - 17:00
2025-11-26
Generation future: Inspiration for tomorrow's industry
The high-level closing ceremony will adopt resolutions and related policy decisions including the Riyadh Declaration, which strengthens UNIDO’s mandate towards the future of development for industries.
09:00 - 12:00
2025-11-27
Closing of the 21st session of the UNIDO General Conference
1 July 2025
Vienna, 1 July 2025 - The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia jointly with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), organized a promotional event in Vienna, Austria, at the margins of the fifty-third session of the Industrial Development Board of UNIDO, to highlight that the Kingdom will host the 21st session of the UNIDO General Conference in Riyadh from 23 to 27 November 2025. The event showcased the Kingdom’s preparations and commitment to hosting this landmark gathering in the global industrial development landscape. It also served as an official invitation to Member States and other partners to participate in the upcoming General Conference.
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22 February 2025
Gerd Müller, Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), engaged in a dialogue with Member States to update them on the state of the Organization's operations, review the progress made in 2024 and outline his targets for 2025. Müller addressing representatives: “We live in turbulent times and the work of UNIDO has never been more important. The geopolitical landscape is shifting, and the challenges we face are becoming more complex. Industry is a key part of the solution to address these global challenges, creating jobs and incomes.”
28 November 2024
Vienna, Nov 27 – The fifty-second session of the UNIDO Industrial Development Board (IDB) has come to a successful conclusion, having prepared also the road towards the landmark 21st UNIDO General Conference to take place in Riyadh in November 2025. The IDB is a central policy-making organ for the Organization, comprised of representatives from 53 Member States, presided over by Ambassador Gabriela Sellner of Austria. It oversees UNIDO‘s work programme implementation, regular and operational budgets, and makes recommendations to the General Council.
1 July 2025
Vienna, 1 July 2025 - The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia jointly with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), organized a promotional event in Vienna, Austria, at the margins of the fifty-third session of the Industrial Development Board of UNIDO, to highlight that the Kingdom will host the 21st session of the UNIDO General Conference in Riyadh from 23 to 27 November 2025. The event showcased the Kingdom’s preparations and commitment to hosting this landmark gathering in the global industrial development landscape. It also served as an official invitation to Member States and other partners to participate in the upcoming General Conference.
22 February 2025
Gerd Müller, Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), engaged in a dialogue with Member States to update them on the state of the Organization's operations, review the progress made in 2024 and outline his targets for 2025. Müller addressing representatives: “We live in turbulent times and the work of UNIDO has never been more important. The geopolitical landscape is shifting, and the challenges we face are becoming more complex. Industry is a key part of the solution to address these global challenges, creating jobs and incomes.”
28 November 2024
Vienna, Nov 27 – The fifty-second session of the UNIDO Industrial Development Board (IDB) has come to a successful conclusion, having prepared also the road towards the landmark 21st UNIDO General Conference to take place in Riyadh in November 2025. The IDB is a central policy-making organ for the Organization, comprised of representatives from 53 Member States, presided over by Ambassador Gabriela Sellner of Austria. It oversees UNIDO‘s work programme implementation, regular and operational budgets, and makes recommendations to the General Council.
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