THE HIGHLIGHTS

Business Diplomacy Training for Global South Diplomats in Vienna

UNIDO’s 4th Business Diplomacy Training concluded in Vienna on 12 June, bringing together diplomats and technical experts from across the Global South for three days of intensive exchange. The training explored how embassies can serve as strategic agents for SDG-aligned investment promotion, with sessions covering topics such as FDI communication, diaspora engagement, regional cooperation, impact investing, and gender-smart diplomacy. Participants walked away with practical tools to strengthen their role in advancing sustainable development.

🌐 UNIDO at the 31st ARSO General Assembly in Zanzibar 🌍

UNIDO participated in the 31st General Assembly of the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) in Zanzibar, reaffirming its strong commitment to inclusive and sustainable industrial development in Africa. Building on long-standing cooperation with ARSO and other Pan-African quality infrastructure (QI) institutions, UNIDO continues to support efforts to strengthen continental, regional, and national QI systems - key enablers for fair and just trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). At the event, UNIDO presented the impact of UNIDO's support to ARSO in standards harmonization under the ACP Quality Infrastructure programme funded by the EU and the OACPS. In a separate panel, UNIDO also shared impactful conformity assessment examples from across the continent.

🌍 UNIDO at the Zanzibar Investment Summit

UNIDO presented the Invest in the ACP Platform at the Zanzibar Investment Summit on 16 June, hosted by the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority. The high-level event, attended by the President of Zanzibar, senior government officials, diplomats, and investors, highlighted strong interest from both ZIPA and TIC in leveraging the Platform to boost investment promotion efforts in Tanzania.

🚀 UNIDO x Industrial Projects Service (IPS) Ethiopia - 4 Decades of Industrial Success through COMFAR 🌍

Since 1986, UNIDO’s COMFAR software has played a central role in Ethiopia’s efforts to strengthen industrial project appraisal. In close partnership with Industrial Projects Service (IPS), over 200 feasibility studies have been conducted using COMFAR, supporting IPS’s growth into Ethiopia’s leading industrial consultancy. This long-standing collaboration highlights the power of digital innovation and tailored tools to build local capacity and drive sustainable industrial development.

🏖️ Tourism SEZS as engines of inclusive growth in Africa 🌍

The 2024 UNIDO–Africa Economic Zones Organization (AEZO) Survey highlights an untapped opportunity: while most Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Africa focus on manufacturing, the potential of tourism and service-led development remains largely underutilized. Tourism-oriented SEZs (TSZs) can serve as powerful engines for inclusive growth, attracting investment, creating jobs, and stimulating local economies—especially when backed by smart infrastructure and sustainability strategies. Notable examples like Taghazout Bay in Morocco and Sherbro Island in Sierra Leone showcase how tourism can lead service-driven industrialization. UNIDO emphasizes the need for clear TSZ typologies, integration with transport and digital corridors, and the embedding of ESG standards to unlock climate finance.

UNIDO at the International Economics Journey of Councils (JEICOM 2025) Cameroon

At JEICOM 2025 in Yaoundé, UNIDO joined MAGZI for a high-level workshop on the role of local authorities in creating industrial zones. As part of the EU- and OACPS-funded ACP Business-Friendly Programme, UNIDO shared practical steps, tools like COMFAR, and success stories, highlighting the importance of public-private cooperation and capacity-building for sustainable industrialization.

⚡ The untapped potential of renewable energy in Africa’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs)

While 40% of SEZs now prioritize renewables, actual usage remains low. Success stories from South Africa, Mozambique, and Congo show what’s possible. Scaling up clean energy will require joint action to overcome policy, cost, and infrastructure barriers—boosting both sustainability and competitiveness.

🌍 Harnessing Digital Tools for Investment Facilitation and Trade Growth 💼💻

At a dynamic panel on “Digital Tools as a Trade Growth Engine”, held at the EU-Kenya Business Forum, we presented our Digital Investment Promotion Solutions (DIPS) — a key component of our support to Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) and Institutions (IPIs) across ACP countries.

💻 COMFAR trainings in Naivasha, Kenya 🌍

UNIDO recently delivered back-to-back COMFAR trainings in Naivasha, Kenya, as part of the ACP Business-Friendly Programme. Held from 28 April to 9 May, the sessions equipped participants from KenInvest, SEZA, and MITI with practical skills in investment project appraisal. The Beginner course covered core COMFAR functions, while the Advanced session focused on joint ventures, PPPs, and economic analysis. With real case studies and a preview of COMFAR 4, the training supports Kenya’s drive for evidence-based investment promotion.

Investment Perspectives #2: Tailoring FDI Promotion Strategies for Capital Investors from GCC Countries

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) investors have poured over $100 billion into Africa, reshaping the investment landscape. UNIDO’s latest insight explores how ACP countries can tailor FDI promotion strategies to attract GCC sovereign wealth funds like Mubadala, ADIA, and ADQ. It highlights key sectors, practical strategies, and lessons from 90+ countries, urging ACP diplomats and Investment Promotion Agencies to rethink approaches and engage these capital-rich investors beyond traditional industries.

📘 UNIDO ACP Business-Friendly in the Business ACP Private Sector Development (PSD) Report

UNIDO is proud to be featured in the Business ACP report on best practices in private sector development across ACP countries. Highlights include rolling out the Digital Investment Promotion System (DIPS) with AI-enabled investor services, advancing gender lens investing, and showcasing over 1,000 opportunities via the Invest-in-ACP Platform and COMFAR. Together, these digital tools and tailored training have supported smarter, more inclusive, and resilient investment ecosystems, reaching nearly 2,000 investors and €650 million in potential investments, with 34% of projects led by women.

THE PACIFIC

Development of the Pacific Regional Quality Policy

The Pacific region has taken another major step toward strengthening its Quality Infrastructure with the launch of the Pacific Regional Quality Policy development process. The Inception Workshop, held in Nadi, Fiji, brought together stakeholders from across the region to lay the groundwork for the first-ever policy and strategy guiding quality infrastructure in the Pacific. Spearheaded by the Pacific Islands Forum with technical support from UNIDO and funding from the European Union and the OACPS Secretariat, the initiative aims to support economic ambitions outlined in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific. Despite challenges, including a major earthquake in Vanuatu, the project has moved forward thanks to the commitment of partners and regional experts.

World Metrology Day 2025 & Specialized Training on UNIDO’s Quality Policy Development Methodology in Fiji

As part of the ACP Quality Infrastructure Programme (ACP QIP), World Metrology Day 2025 was celebrated at a specialized training on UNIDO’s Quality Policy development methodology, delivered to QI Focal Points and Trade Officials from across the Pacific. This training took place on 19 & 20 May 2025 in Nadi, Fiji and will be followed by the workshop to beginning formulating the Pacific Regional Quality Policy (PRQP). Developing a robust, demand-oriented and harmonized regional metrology infrastructure will be a key pillar of the PRQP.

AFRICA

Fostering sustainable development through the integration of quality and standards into education curricula

Recognizing the importance of Quality Infrastructure, the overall aim of this activity is to mainstream quality and technical standards into tertiary education curricula across African Higher Education Institutions, in alignment with the AU Agenda 2063, the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA), and regional industrialization policies, reinforcing Africa’s capacity, with qualified human resources to promote quality in all the field of activities, to meet international standards, and enhance intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

An International Expert, Dr. Geoff Visser, was recruited to lead this activity. On the 28^th of May 2025, a scoping meeting was carried out. It brought together representatives of AUC, ARSO, PAQI, UNIDO project team, and the recruited expert. The objective of this introductory meeting was to agree on the methodology, including in particular the establishment of an expert group to validate the expected achievement of this activity.

Support Conformity Assessment Bodies to develop Quality Management Systems

With the support of AFRAC, the project team successfully identified 32 Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) to receive assistance in developing quality management systems. These CABs comprise 11 testing laboratories, 7 calibration laboratories, 6 inspection bodies, and 8 certification bodies.

A scoping meeting was held with representatives of the selected CABs on the 9^th of April 2025. The main objective of the meeting was to officially launch the activities, under the ACP QI Programme, linked to the capacity building of conformity assessment bodies in terms of applicable management systems and to assist them in implementation, leading to their preparation towards international recognition.

More than 20 national experts have been recruited to conduct gap analysis, which will ultimately refine the selection of ten well-advanced CABs that will receive comprehensive support in establishing their quality management systems for accreditation.

In the framework of the support to be provided to the selected CABs, particular support has been planned for calibration labs in collaboration with AFRIMET. An International Expert, Djakaridja Nyamba, has been recruited to head this activity. On the 27^th of May 2025, a scoping meeting introducing him to the PAQI secretariat was carried out. During this meeting the expert, Mr. Djakaridja, gave a presentation on the approach that would be used to offer support to the calibration labs.

Enhancement of the competitiveness of Africa’s priority products through ARSO standards

Within the ACP QIP Programme and in collaboration with UNIDO, ARSO was tasked to develop/harmonise 23 standards on priority products, including 5 Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS). As of today, 96% (22/23) of the targeted standards are at the enquiry stage. According to ARSO workplan, this activity will be completed by end of December 2025.

Supporting the alignment of National Quality Policies (NQPs) with the Africa Quality Policy (AQP)

As part of its efforts to support the alignment of National Quality Policies (NQPs) with the Africa Quality Policy (AQP), the ACP Quality Infrastructure Programme (QIP) Africa provided capacity-building support to 14 national experts on the use of the relevant alignment guide. In collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) and PAQI institutions, four Member States - Uganda, Botswana, Ghana, and Senegal - were selected to benefit from tailored support. National experts from each of these countries, previously trained by the programme, were recruited to work alongside an international lead expert to carry out the alignment process.

The activity officially commenced with a scoping meeting on 23 April 2025, bringing together the ACP Africa team, the international expert, and the four national experts, with the purpose to agree on the methodology and next steps.

Digitalization of the ARSO Standards Harmonisation Model (ASHAM) and ARSO Catalogue

The ARSO and the UNIDO teams held a meeting with ByteCity, the contracted vendor working on the digitalization process, on the 24th of April 2025. The vendor used this meeting to demonstrate the features of the future platform for tracking standards development and managing committee meetings, as well as accessing standards through the digital catalogue. As of today, the platform is at the final stage of development and is awaiting validation by ARSO and UNIDO.

THE CARIBBEAN

Development of National Standardisation Strategies

Haiti: On May 17, 2025, a remote stakeholder engagement session was held for Haiti, marking the final consultation in a series supporting the development of National Standardization Strategies (NSS) across seven CARICOM countries. Thirty-five stakeholders from key public, private, and socio-economic sectors participated, validated research findings and prioritized standards for inclusion in Haiti’s NSS. With the engagement phase now complete, the next step is drafting the NSS document.

Belize: On April 3-4, 2025, stakeholder engagement sessions were held in Belize as part of the development of its National Standardization Strategy (NSS), becoming the sixth of seven CARICOM countries to participate. Held in Belize City and Belmopan, the sessions brought together 50 public and private sector representatives to review research findings and discuss the national standards portfolio. Participants validated key findings and contributed to shaping the NSS by prioritizing relevant standards for inclusion.

Certification of Private and Public Sector Agencies

On March 31, 2025, a technical audit was conducted for Tan Bun Skrati, an artisanal chocolate producer in Suriname, as part of efforts to support ISO 9001:2015 certification. Tan Bun is one of two SMEs selected under the ACP QI Programme for this support. The audit assessed the company’s compliance with ISO requirements and identified gaps to be addressed. The programme will now assist the firm through targeted training and implementation of necessary procedures to close these gaps and move toward certification.