UNIDO and Germany agree to open an Investment and Technology Promotion Office (ITPO) in Bonn
VIENNA, November 21 th 2016 – German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Gerd Müller and the Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), LI Yong concluded an agreement today to establ...
With ‘Silicon Valley’ model, UNICEF invests in tech start-ups working to improve children’s lives
November 15 th 2016 – Using a venture capital approach – investing in companies with short track records but long-term growth possibilities – the United Nations Children’s Fund announced today the first five emerging market start-ups to which it w...
Chile, Swaziland ratify Trade Facilitation Agreement
November 21 th 2016 – Chile and Swaziland have ratified the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). Their submission of the instruments of acceptance to the WTO on 21 November means that nearly 90 per cent of the ratifications needed to bring the TFA i...
First bike-sharing scheme in Morocco launched in time for COP22
MARRAKECH, November 7 th 2016 – The Government of Morocco, in close cooperation with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), launched a bike-sharing scheme called “Medina Bike” in Mar...
How SMEs can get in on the 3D printing revolution
The dawn of affordable 3D printing is set to completely upturn the way we do business. The ability to use additive layer manufacturing to create new, more efficient and more affordable items no longer requires an investment of tens of thousands of pounds ...
Government procurement – a path to SME growth?
In many countries Government is the biggest procurer of goods and services, which makes them an attractive client for small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) seeking to get a leg up in business. Recognizing the important role that the public sector play...
“Small is the New Big” – Malaysian SMEs Help Energize, Drive Economy
STORY HIGHLIGHTS Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) form the backbone of Malaysia’s economy. Ninety-seven percent of business establishments in Malaysia are SMEs. These businesses account for 65% of the country’s employment. Malaysia’s 2012-2020 SM...
The world’s 10 most gender-equal countries
If current trends continue, a baby girl born today will only see the gender gap in health, education, economic opportunity and politics completely close around the world if she lives to 83. That’s the stark finding of the World Economic Forum’s Global...
These are the world’s most innovative economies
Switzerland has held onto its title as the world’s most innovative economy in the latest Global Innovation Index. The 2016 index, produced by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Cornell University and INSEAD, assesses the innovation per...
2016 Index of Economic Freedom
For much of human history, most individuals have lacked economic freedom and opportunity, condemning them to poverty and deprivation. Today, we live in the most prosperous time in human history. Poverty, sicknesses, and ignorance are receding throughout t...
