The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Anila Denaj, participated in the panel of the international conference organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in Vienna, on "Industrialization in middle-income countries: A driving force for sustainable development".

During her speech, Denaj focused on the reforms made by the Albanian government for the transition to a technology-driven economy, to increase the value of work and products, the value chain, and access to markets.

"Albania is working intensively on the development of infrastructure, regional cooperation, and integrative reforms for inclusion in the elite markets of the EU with quality products aiming at the further increase of exports of Albanian products", she said.

Denaj noted that UNIDO's expertise will be able to significantly help speed up the process of bringing together farmers and creating value chains, increasing the quality and standards of products, particularly fruits, vegetables, and plants, aiming for a higher degree of industrialization as an engine of sustainable development.

Furthermore, Denaj met with the director general of the UNIDO, Gerd Muller. The meeting was held during the proceedings of the international conference organized by UNIDO in Vienna.

"We discussed together the expertise that UNIDO can offer for Albania's industrial development strategy, especially for priority sectors such as agribusiness and supporting the path towards EU integration", said Denaj. The ministerial meeting of the "Like-Minded Group for Middle-Income Countries" was held during the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Currently consisting of 108 countries, MICs are a diverse group that accounts for 30% of the global gross domestic product (GDP) and 75% of the world's population.

The event aimed at facilitating dialogue among representatives of middle-income countries (MICs) on the main challenges and vulnerabilities faced by MICs to ensure inclusive and sustainable development through the structural change of their economies.

It tried to build on the outcomes of the side event jointly organized by UNIDO and the Like-Minded Group for Middle-Income Countries on the occasion of the in-depth review of Sustainable Development Goal 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure) during the 2023 high-level political forum in New York.

The event also helped build on the momentum of the recent global discussions on development cooperation with MICs on the occasion of the SDG Summit, as well as the Eighth Ministerial Meeting of the Like-Minded Group for Middle-Income Countries held on the margins of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The event is part of UNIDO’s continuous engagement with MICs and in line with its strategic framework and action plan.