Riyadh, 23 November 2025 – The 21st session of the General Conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), together with the Global Industry Summit 2025, officially opened today at the King Abdulaziz Conference Center in Riyadh. The General Conference, UNIDO’s supreme policymaking body, brings together all 173 Member States every two years to set the Organization’s strategic direction and review progress on its mandate.
The General Conference facilitates high-level dialogue and fosters new cooperation among governments, policymakers, industry leaders, experts, and innovators on the future of sustainable industrialization. The Global Industry Summit, hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, features thematic days dedicated to investments and partnerships, the empowerment of women and the role of youth in driving sustainable industrial transformation.
At the high-level opening ceremony, UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller emphasized that the world does not need mere additional summit declarations, but rather a renewed commitment to humanity and global responsibility with concrete action following on from it.
Müller: “This year, the wealthy donor countries have cut the budget of many UN important organizations by up to 40%. This risks the lives of millions of children, refugees and vulnerable people living in the world’s crisis areas, who depend on humanitarian assistance. The G20 Summit is happening in South Africa. My appeal to the G20 states is this: reverse these cuts!”
The General Conference appointed Gerd Müller as Director General of UNIDO for a second term of office.
Khalil bin Salamah, Vice-Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia, highlighted in his remarks the importance of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosting the Global Industry Summit and General Conference. He said, “The principles of UNIDO, namely, innovation and sustainability are the same principles that are at the heart of our vision in Saudi Arabia.”
The UN Resident Coordinator in Saudi Arabia, Mohamed El Zarkani, delivered a statement on behalf of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The opening ceremony included also addresses by high-level officials, including ministers representing UNIDO Member States from all regions of the world.
Following the first plenary session, the day concluded with the inaugural ONE World Sustainability Awards Ceremony, honouring outstanding achievements in sustainable supply chains, innovative start-ups and women in industry.
See here for more photos of the opening of the 21st UNIDO General Conference and here for the inaugural ONE World Sustainability Awards