Bulgaria Elected to the Industrial Development Board of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) at the General Conference in Riyadh, 23–27 November 2025
01 December 2025 News
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Nikolay Pavlov represented Bulgaria at the 21st session of the General Conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from 23 to 27 November 2025. During the Conference, Bulgaria was elected to serve on the organisation’s main governing body – the Industrial Development Board (IDB). Bulgaria’s Permanent Representative to the international organisations in Vienna, Ambassador Mr Ivan Gospodinov, was elected Vice-President of the General Conference, whose presiding officer is the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bandar bin Ibrahim bin Abdullah al-Khorayef.
More than 4,000 delegates, representing the governments of the Member States, international organisations, the private sector and international financial institutions, took part in this year’s edition of the General Conference, which was held in the format of a Global Industry Summit under the leading theme “The Power of Investments and Partnerships to Accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals.”
In his statement, Deputy Minister Nikolay Pavlov underscored UNIDO’s contribution in supporting Member States to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic development, eradicate hunger and overcome poverty through industrialisation. Bulgaria, for its part, contributes to these objectives through its commitment to the green transition and the achievement of climate neutrality by 2050, its support for agriculture as a driver of sustainable development, and its focus on innovation and digitalisation as key pillars of its economic policy. Deputy Minister Pavlov noted that, in the current geopolitical and environmental context, Bulgaria is striving to strengthen its industrial base in order to ensure supply security and innovation capacity. Bulgaria’s cooperation with UNIDO has evolved over the years in line with the country’s economic development: from being a recipient of development assistance, Bulgaria is increasingly establishing itself as a donor country, contributing to more balanced and equitable global development.
In the margins of the Conference, Deputy Minister Nikolay Pavlov held bilateral meetings with the UNIDO leadership and with Bulgaria’s key partners. Together with UNIDO’s Deputy Director General, Fatou Haidara, he discussed the projects supported by Bulgaria under UNIDO’s Programme for the Green Industrial Recovery of Ukraine, as well as opportunities for engaging Bulgarian businesses in UNIDO’s activities, including the preparation of an upcoming seminar on the subject in Sofia.
At the meeting between Deputy Minister Pavlov and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economic Development and Digitalisation of the Republic of Moldova, Eugeniu Osmocescu, they discussed Moldova’s priorities for economic development – particularly in the context of its accession process to the EU – which are also incorporated in the forthcoming new partnership programme with UNIDO. They also explored opportunities for identifying joint projects with potential for implementation under the framework of Bulgarian development aid.
In the meeting with Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, Andrii Teliupa, the discussion focused on opportunities for Bulgaria and Bulgarian businesses to participate in the post-war recovery of Ukraine’s economy and infrastructure, which will require the mobilisation of substantial investment and sustained political support. The Bulgarian side reaffirmed its unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as Bulgaria’s readiness to contribute to the country’s recovery from the devastating consequences of Russia’s aggression.
In the meeting with Nikolaus Marschik, Secretary General of the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria, the two sides exchanged views on current issues on the international agenda and reaffirmed the good cooperation and mutual support on matters of priority for both countries. Attention was also given to UNIDO’s Programme for the Green Industrial Recovery of Ukraine and to opportunities for continued cooperation in the implementation of joint projects.
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