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AU Endorses Arkebe as Sole Candidate for UNIDO Top Position

ADDIS ABABA – The African Union’s executive council has unanimously endorsed the candidature of Ethiopia’s Arkebe Oqubay as the sole African candidate for the top post of UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

In a statement Friday, the AU said Arkebe’s candidature as the sole African candidate for the post of Director-General of UNIDO unanimously endorsed during the its Executive Council meeting held on 3-4, February 2021.



“Dr. Arkebe has spent more than thirty years at the forefront of implementing inclusive and sustainable industrial development policies and as a champion of transformational economic development in Africa,” the pan-African bloc said.

African leaders emphasized the importance of UNIDO being led by a competent Director-General, according to the AU.

They “voiced their confidence in the world-class caliber of Dr. Oqubay’s candidature including his formidable leadership qualities to ensure equitable and sustainable global industrialization,” it said.

Arkebe, a senior minister and Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, is a distinguished fellow at the Overseas Development Institute of UK.

Li Yong of China is currently holding the director-general position of the UN agency specialized in assisting countries in economic and industrial development.

Featured Image: Arkebe speaking during World Policy Conference TV on Jan 8, 2020 [Photo File/Youtube]