South-South Cooperation to benefit all poor countries: UNIDO chief

New Delhi, Feb 18 (UNI) South-South Cooperation is an idea whose time has come, feels the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Director General Kandeh Yumkella, who recently launched the first UNIDO Centre for South-South Industrial Cooperation (UCSSIC) here.

Sharing his perspective on the importance of the Centre, Dr Yumkella says the Centre would replicate the best practices from India, China, Malaysia and Indonesia which have taken more people out of poverty through private sector-driven enterprise in partnership with the Government.

On the choice of India for the launch of his brainchild, the UCSSIC, his answer is simple: India innovates.

"India is building new institutions and is looking at new technology," he says, citing interest in bio-fuels such as jatropha which have been dubbed as "clean fuel", the country's successful micro finance experiment or the use of neem products.

These are innovative, challenging times and there are no simple, orthodox solutions to eradicate poverty in Asia and Africa, he says.

In fact, India and China's growth has helped African consumers who have benefitted from goods cheaply produced in these two countries.

"Industrialisation is needed for growth," he adds.

South-South cooperation aims not only at Africa's development but also seeks to help India and China in building a market for their products.

Outlining the need for cooperation between the South countries in the face of increasing globalisation, he says most of the Less Developed Countries want to scale their economies through value addition of their products which would mean growth and jobs for their people.

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath sees the mutual benefit for all South countries through the UNIDO initiative.

''India has as much to learn as to teach, as much to receive as to give. We view the South-South centre as a project which is global in its reach and scope.'' He was speaking at the official launch of the Centre here on February 15.

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