UNIDO Director General Yong in town today

• Coming here as UNIDO global head
• ‘Boost to our industry profile’ - Rishad
• ‘Start of new program cycle’-UNIDO Colombo

Onetime Chinese financial reformer who successfully championed good governance and the elimination of toxic financial assets in the mainland corporate sector, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Director General Li Yong will be in Sri Lanka today to inspect UNIDO’s next program cycle in the country. “UNIDO Director General Li Yong’s arrival in Sri Lanka will not only strengthen their programs here but is also a boost to Sri Lanka’s industry profile,” Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen said. Minister Bathiudeen was discussing preparations with his officials for Yong’s visit from 4-5 February. “UNIDO Director General Li Yong is arriving here at the invitation of the Government of Sri Lanka following the election of President Maithripala Sirsena,” Minister Bathiudeen said, adding: “We discussed further possibilities of collaboration between Sri Lanka and UNIDO when I met him during my visit to Vienna in November 2014.” Yong, who is also a member of high-profile international advisory body, the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED), was a member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Chinese Central Bank for a decade. From 1999 to 2002, he served as the Secretary General of the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He played a key role in China’s cooperation with the World Bank and ADB and was elected to lead UNIDO in 2013. He arrives in Sri Lanka having addressed the 21st Partnership Summit in Jaipur, India only two weeks ago. “This is a great honour for Sri Lanka,” said UNIDO Colombo Focal Point Head Nawaz Rajabdeen. “DG Yong is expected to focus, among other things, on agribusiness, productivity through sustainable resource utilisation, development of the cinnamon and bamboo sectors, cleaner production, livelihood restoration in former conflict areas, strengthening industrial marketing and promotion of Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (ISID) and advancing youth entrepreneurship with support for development of micro, small and medium industries.” During his visit, Yong is scheduled to meet with several senior government officials. Sri Lanka was elected as a member of UNIDO’s Industrial Development Board (IDB) in October 2011 for a three-year term and the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in Vienna, Ambassador A.L.A. Azeez, served as its Interim President in 2014. In the second quarter of 2014, the industry sector contributed to 31.4% (totalling $ 2 billion) of Sri Lanka’s GDP.