History of Agency in the World and Iran

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) was established in 1966 and became a specialized agency of the United Nations in 1985. As part of the United Nations, UNIDO is responsible for promoting industrial development throughout the developing world, in cooperation with its 172 member states. Its headquarters are located in Vienna, Austria.

The UNIDO Country Office in I.R. of Iran was established in 1999 to support the Government in its industrialization priorities with a view to establishing close ties with various ministries, Governmental bodies, civil and research institutes as well as the private sector.

Priorities Globally and in Iran

UNIDO is the specialized agency of the United Nations that focuses its efforts on relieving poverty by fostering productivity growth. It helps developing countries and countries with economies in transition in their fight against marginalization in today’s globalizing world. It mobilizes knowledge, skills, information and technology to promote productive employment, competitive economy and a sound environment.

With a number of country and regional offices, investment and technology promotion offices related to specific aspects of its work, UNIDO maintains an active presence in the field, in order to promote growth in industrial products and encourage and improve industrial and technological skills.

Main projects/activities in Iran

UNIDO’s new Integrated Program/Country Program (IP/CP) for Iran maintains its focus on reducing poverty by creating employment opportunities and generating income through fostering sustainable development and promoting industrial development of non-oil sectors and thus contributing to the alleviation of social hardship.

The new (IP/CP) is oriented around six strategic cooperation areas:

• Globalization;

• Regional development through strengthening small and medium enterprises and local industries;

• Business environment improvement and private sector development;

• Modernization of agro-based industries;

• Energy-related subjects, and

• Environmental and climate-change related issues.

UNIDO is also in charge of the implementation of a number of environment-related programs in Iran, including the Montreal Protocol Program, which is designed to reduce the use of ozone depleting substances (financed by the Montreal Protocol Program). Negotiations are under way with the Government of Iran to also develop a program on reduction of Persistent Organic Pollution (POP’s), under the Stockholm Convention, and with financial support from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF).

Some of the UNIDO projects implemented in Iran are:

• Industrial clustering project;

• Modernization of dates processing and packaging;

• Capacity building and technology management at enterprise level;

• National strategy for energy efficiency and conservation, and

• Montreal Protocol Projects, relevant to the reduction of ozone depleting substances and reduction of methyl bromide, used in agriculture.

It is worth mentioning that one of the unique tools developed by UNIDO is the Computer Model for Feasibility Analysis and Reporting (COMFAR). COMFAR III is a valuable aid for the analysis of investment projects. COMFAR III packages can be easily ordered in Iran through the UNIDO Field Office in Tehran.

Address: United Nations Building No. 8, Shahrzad Blvd., Darrous, Tehran, Iran,

P.O.Box 15875/4557

Tel: (98-21) 2286 691-4/2286 8044/ 2286 7693 E-mail: office.iran@unido.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 2286 7362 website: www.unido.org