United Nations Industrial Development Organization Establishes BRICS Center for Industrial Capabilities
Vienna, Austria - The BRICS Center for Industrial Competencies (BCIC) was officially launched at a ceremony held at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) headquarters, attended by UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller and representatives from BRICS Plus countries, alongside other relevant stakeholders and potential partners.
Instigated and backed by the BRICS Plus nations, which collectively encompass more than 40% of the world's populace and over 35% of global economic output, the BCIC embodies these nations' shared goal of harmonizing their efforts and resources to promote inclusive and sustainable industrial development.
In his statement, Director General Müller highlighted the BCIC as a groundbreaking platform that unites the national efforts and centers of the BRICS countries into a larger, multilateral network. He explained that the BCIC would function as a hub for exchange and collaboration in knowledge, technology, and innovation, thereby aiding all partner countries in capitalizing on Industry 4.0, digitalization, and innovation. The BCIC also aims to fostering new public-private partnerships, thereby boosting the competitive edge of BRICS countries in the global market.
The BCIC serves as a networking hub for manufacturing companies in BRICS Plus countries, aiding in their transformation into 'Factories of the Future', internationally expansion, and the integration of sustainable practices. Its vision is to evolve into the BRICS-driven technology marketplace for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), promoting market access, business internationalization, and providing scalable solutions applicable to BRICS and other partner countries.
Representatives from the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China, who have played a significant role in the establishment of the BCIC through their support and fundraising initiatives, expressed their excitement about the prospect of deeper cooperation. They encouraged BRICS Plus nations to join the Centre to accelerate and benefit from the Centre's strategic initiatives.
Alexey Gruzdev, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, underscored the launch of the BCIC as a remarkable milestone. He asserted that Russia is open to dialog with foreign partners and ready to share its expertise, including in critical areas such as digitalization, new mobility technologies, unmanned systems, human resources development, and SME development, among others.
Xiadiya, Deputy Representative of China's Mission to UNIDO, confirmed that the successful launch of the Centre symbolizes an achievement under the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR). She reiterated China's intention to strengthen partnerships to build a network of BRICS industrial capacity centers.
César Augusto Vermiglio Bonamigo, Brazil's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna, expressed his joy in participating in the launch of the BRICS Centre for Industrial Competences. He believed that the Centre would stimulate cooperation between BRICS countries in various sectors, including SMEs, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and bio-industry.
Ciyong Zou, Deputy Director General and Managing Director of the Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development Directorate of UNIDO, emphasized that the BCIC's launch marks a significant step forward. He stated that the BRICS Plus nations, which together represent more than 40% of the world's population and over 35% of global GDP, have a singular opportunity to shape inclusive and sustainable industrial development. This initiative offers a unique platform for cross-regional cooperation, knowledge exchange, and technology transfer in these crucial areas, according to Zou.
Aleksei Savrasov, Industrial Development Officer of the UNIDO division of Digital Transformations and Artificial Intelligence, clarified that the BCIC would operate as a network-based entity, uniting the national centers of industrial competencies to drive innovation and skills development, supporting manufacturers in implementing advanced industrial solutions and expanding both within and beyond BRICS nations. He additionally invited the BRICS Plus nations to join the BCIC to facilitate collaboration between entities offering practical industrial solutions and those seeking them in BRICS Plus countries.
UNIDO stands ready to assist BRICS Plus countries in bringing together their existing national centers into a network to maximize the impact of their sustainable economic and industrial development by enhancing skills development for Industry 4.0 and fostering innovation ecosystems across the BRICS, according to Savrasov.
For more information on the BRICS Center for Industrial Competencies, please contact Aleksei Savrasov at the provided email address.
- The BCIC serves as a platform for collaboration in knowledge, technology, and innovation, particularly in the fields of Industry 4.0, digitalization, and innovation, which are critical aspects of the business and technology industries.
- The BCIC aims to foster new public-private partnerships, promoting market access and business internationalization in the education-and-self-development sector, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), thus strengthening the competitive edge of BRICS countries in the global market.
