ICPE ADG Mr. Janez Podobnik attended UNIDO Industrial Development Board and Global South-South Development Expo 2012 in Vienna

On the 20^th and 21^st of November 2012, ADG Mr. Janez Podobnik visited Vienna. Accompanied with Mr. Nenad Stankovic, ICPE Representative in Vienna, Mr. Podobnik participated in 40^th Session of the UNIDO Industrial Development Board in which delegates from UNIDO Member States reviewed the implementation of the work programme, the regular and operational budgets and made recommendations to the GC on policy matters.

UNIDO IDB Plenary Session

Mr. Kandeh K. Yumkella, Director-General of UNIDO

Mr. Janez Podobnik, ICPE ADG in UNIDO IDB Plenary Session

Mr. Podobnik and Mr. Stankovic also attended the fifth annual Global South-South Development Expo 2012 hosted by UNIDO. In this very important GSSD Expo more than 600 delegates from 150 countries exchanged and scaled-up best practices and innovative solutions to cross-cutting energy insecurity and climate change challenges.

Pleanary Session

During the IDB Session in UNIDO Mr. Podobnik had very fruitful discussion with Dr. Pradeep Monga, Director, Energy and Climate Change. Further steps in co-operation between the organizations were discussed and agreed. Dr. Monga confirmed his visit to ICPE in Ljubljana on 20^th and 21^st December 2012 at the first meeting of ICPE Alumni Club. As the former ICPE MBA student, Dr. Monga kindly accepted to be first President of the Alumni Club. Based on Dr. Monga’s recommendation ICPE met representatives of the Economic Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) as potential partner of ICPE in programs and projects implementation in the West Africa. In discussion with Mr. Mahama Kappiah, Executive Director and Mr. Martin Lugmayr, Renewable Energy Expert of ECREEE it was agreed to consider possibility to organize mutual trainings on different topics important for that part of Africa. They expressed special interest for training on access to EU Funds including its mechanism for applying/using, which has to be prepared and conducted by ICPE. Mr. Podobnik and Mr. Stankovic also had opportunity to meet and exchange views about co-operation with Dr. Olga Memedovic, Chief, Europe and NIS Programme, Bureau for Regional Programmes in UNIDO and Mr. Ouseph Padickakudi, Programme Manager of UNIDO’s Quality, Standards and Conformity Unit.

During very intensive program of visit, Mr. Podobnik met H.E. Ms. Blanka Jamnisek, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Slovenia to the United Nations, OSCE and other international organizations in Vienna, H.E. Mr. Xolisa Mabhongo, Ambassador of South Africa and H.E. Mr. Thiep Nguyen, Ambassador of Vietnam. The main subjects of those meetings were creating mutual programs and developing co-operation between ICPE and respected countries. During very fruitful and pragmatic discussions Mr. Podobnik underlined ICPE strong intention to implement activities in accordance with concrete needs and requirements of the countries. Ambassadors appreciated received information and supported ICPE in efforts to establish closer cooperation with their responsible administrations. In the very constructive discussion, Ambassador Blanka Jamnisek pointed out UNIDO as one of the most important international organization for ICPE and presented several very interesting ideas for possible cooperation of ICPE with this organization. It was agreed to continue dialogue and intensify exchange of information between ICPE and these embassies.

(From left) Mr. Janez Podobnik, ICPE ADG, Ms. Debra Steiner, Counsellor in the South African Embassy, Mr. Xolisa Mabhongo, Ambassador, Mr. Nenad Stankovic, ICPE Representative in Vienna

(From left) Mr. Janez Podobnik, ICPE ADG, Mr. Thiep Nguyen, Ambassador, Mr. Nenad Stankovic, ICPE Representative in Vienna