UN Secretary General visits offices of UN Technology Bank

mbuldys — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 17:21:00 +0000

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Gebze – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres visited the UN Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries in Gebze, Turkey, on 31 October 2019 to meet Managing Director, Joshua Setipa and staff.

“I'm extremely proud to see the work that colleagues have done here. This Technology Bank was born was born 11 months ago and is already having a very important role in supporting least developed countries to have access to new technologies and to be able not to stay behind the in the implementation of the Agenda 2030“, said the Secretary General. “My appeal to the international community as a whole is to provide this bank with resources that will be necessary to take full potential of the excellent work that is being done.”

During his visit, the Secretary-General was briefed on the UN Technology Bank’s programmes across 20 least developed countries, including science, technology and innovation policy capacity training, technology transfer, direct support to boost the capacity of national academies of science in least developed countries and enhancing scientific research capacity.

“It is a great privilege for us to welcome the UN Secretary General to our offices today, marking the culmination of the operationalization of the Technology Bank. This visit signifies the importance that the United Nations places on ensuring the digital divide between least developed countries and the rest of the world is bridged and that the potential for science, technology and innovation to drive the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals in the least developed countries be fully exploited,” said Mr. Setipa.

The UN Technology Bank is dedicated to supporting the contribution of science, technology and innovation in the world’s least developed countries, running programmes in 20 countries and working with partners to enhance support and coordination in technology sectors.

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World’s least developed countries to benefit from Turkish expertise and support through UN Technology Bank

mbuldys — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 18:21:00 +0000

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Bringing solar irrigation to farmers and solar home systems to families in Bangladesh.

Dominic Chavez / World Bank

Gebze - Turkey will provide increased specialist expertise and support to the newly established Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries. As the first official visitor from the Turkish Government, Mr. Naci Ağbal, President of the Presidency of Strategy and Budget, reinforced Turkey’s commitment to the Technology Bank this week, highlighting Turkey’s role as champion for the world’s poorest nations.

“As part of our international development cooperation understanding, we give importance to addressing the needs of the Least Developed Countries and we are proud of hosting UN Technology Bank. We are dedicated to continue the support which started from the beginning of the establishment process,” said Mr. Ağbal.

Mr. Ağbal and his delegation were met in Gebze by Mr. Joshua Setipa, Managing Director of the Technology Bank and his team, to discuss ways forward for the bank and to exchange ideas on future partnerships and resource mobilization.

“It is fitting that Mr. Ağbal and his team are the first high-level visitors we have received at the Technology Bank since it was inaugurated last year. Turkey is a key strategic partner and their generous support is helping to ensure that the world’s least developed countries gain much needed access to science, technology and innovation,” said Mr. Setipa.

Turkey has reaffirmed its commitment to support the Technology Bank as it works with least developed countries to utilise critical technologies for sustainable development and achievement of the 2030 Agenda. The Bank will also facilitate professional exchanges between Turkish scientific institutions and their counterparts in the least developed countries.

As the first UN entity to be headquartered in Turkey, the premises of the Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries were inaugurated in Gebze in 2018. The Bank champions better access to science, technology and innovation for the world’s least developed nations. It identifies and safeguards knowledge, builds partnerships and acts as a gateway for research, technological solutions and training.

The establishment and full operationalization of the Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries in 2018, is the first UN Sustainable Development Goal target, (17.8), to be achieved, speaking directly to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’s principle of leaving no one behind.

The Bank is financed by voluntary contributions and Turkey has committed to support the Banks resource mobilization programme to secure additional resources from state and non-state actors in all UN members.