RIYADH: The Director-General of the UN Industrial Development Organization, Gerd Muller, described Saudi Arabia as a pioneering country in the region in the field of economic development.
He explained that the strategic projects and economic diversification programs underway in the Kingdom represent an ambitious model for achieving sustainable industry at both the regional and international levels.
This came during his speech at the 21st UNIDO General Conference, titled “The Global Manufacturing Summit 2025,” held from Nov. 23 to 27 at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh.
The event brought together industry leaders from around the world, along with experts, governmental organizations, and leading companies to discuss future industrial pathways, challenges, and opportunities.
In his address, Muller emphasized the importance of adopting new concepts in the modern industrial world, including information technology, renewable energy, hydrogen, research, and science, and of leveraging easy access to information and the evolution of internet networks.
He also highlighted UNIDO’s initiatives and programs aimed at enhancing international cooperation to ensure broad participation from various countries and relevant stakeholders.
Muller reviewed the evolution of industry throughout history, leading to the current stage driven by renewable energy, robotics, and quantum computing. He affirmed that modern technology is opening new horizons for the global industrial sector and called for increased investment in least developed and developing countries to enable them to benefit from these industrial transformations and achieve comprehensive and sustainable development.
