Nairobi, June 14th 2013: “Accelerating industrialization in Africa within the post-2015 development agenda”: this is the issue addressed at the Conference of African Ministers of Industry (CAMI), now in its 20th edition and which was attended by the candidate for the post of Director General of UNIDO, the Head of ITPO Italy, Diana Battaggia.

The event was organized by UNIDO, the African Union Commission and the Government of Kenya and was held at the Kenyatta International Conference Center in Nairobi. During the conference, it was highlighted the importance of industrialization for the development of Africa within the Post-2015 framework. More in detail, several proposals were discussed to stimulate the growth of Africa, including the possibility of a long-term funding for the industrialization of the continent, the promotion of private enterprises, the greening of industries and economic empowerment of women and youth.

Ms. Battaggia had the opportunity to speak with the ministers of the AU about the great potential of economic growth on the Africa, a continent full of opportunities and challenges. African issue has been always very important for the Head of UNIDO ITPO Italy, as showned by his recent meeting in Addis Abeba (Ethiopia) with the President of the AU, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and some commissioners of the same Organization.

Inaugurated by UNIDO in 1971, CAMI aims at creating a political forum in which the various involved actors (African ministers of industry, industry representatives African agencies of the United Nations and various African experts in the field of industrial development) discuss on  issues related to African industrial development .