The project UNIDO / BRICS: the mission of the UNIDO delegation in South Africa

December 10, 2014

From 22 November to 3 December 2014 UNIDO Centre for International Industrial Cooperation in the Russian Federation organized the visit of UNIDO delegation in South Africa in the framework of the Project „Partnership of BRICS countries in the field of technology and innovation for development of small and medium entrepreneurship“.

The delegation was headed by Director of the Center for UNIDO in the Russian Federation Mr. Korotkov S. A. The delegation included a representative of the headquarters of UNIDO in Vienna A. Isaacsohn, national expert, UNIDO Project BRICS I. C. Kulkov, Moscow representative of the UNIDO office in Pretoria R. Novak.

The purpose of the visit was the presentation of the Project UNIDO / the BRICS and the Technological platform of the BRICS, the definition of the main directions of technological and innovation cooperation in the priority industrial sectors of the National plan for the development of Africa 2030 and action Plan Industrial policy of South Africa.

Objectives of the meetings in the framework of the visit was the discussion of promising projects, potential partners and effective forms of cooperation, as well as the methodology technology transfer in the framework of the Technological Platform of the BRICS Project UNIDO.

Key reference of the UNIDO Project is to promote the development of small and medium business in BRICS countries.

The main motive for meetings was determined by the position of the Declaration adopted by the heads of the BRICS on BRICS Summit 2013, held in South Africa (section 19):

„We recognize the fundamental role of small and medium enterprises in the economy of our countries. Small and medium business is the main Creator of jobs and wealth. We recognize the need to promote dialogue between ministries and agencies responsible for this subject, especially in order to promote international cooperation and support innovation, research and development.“

This determined the formation of the program of meetings and negotiations delegation UNIDO in South Africa. Meetings were held in 6 cities in four provinces with more than 50 representatives of Ministries, Central and provincial development corporations, scientific, technological and innovation centres and agencies, universities and associations.

Meetings were organized at the Ministry of industry and trade, the Ministry of science and technology, provincial Ministries of economic development, state leading innovation centers, Technology innovation Agency of South Africa and the Council for scientific and industrial research, industrial development Corporation of South Africa, the development Corporations provinces, with representatives of Industrial development zones, chambers of Commerce and industry and municipal authorities.

During the visit, the sides reached a preliminary agreement with the industrial development Corporation of South Africa and the Technology innovation Agency of South Africa on the joint development of working documents for the coordination of cooperation for the promotion and support of the Project UNIDO and the Technological Platform of the BRICS.