7th meeting of the IAEG-SDGs: Opening session: UPDATE 1

The seventh meeting of the IAEG-SDGs Indicators (IAEG-SDGs) was opened on the morning of 10 April at the Vienna International Centre.

Opening session

Enrique Ordaz, Mexico and Co-Chair, opened the session. He later noted that the views of non-member countries, intergovernmental bodies and Major Groups and other Stakeholders were welcome. 

Li Yong, Director General UNIDO, expressed his thanks for giving UNIDO the opportunity to host the meeting. It was evidence of the commitment of the IAEG-SDGs in providing for the measurement for the SDGs in the coming years. The High-level Political Forum (HLPF) has welcomed the adoption of the global indicator framework (GIF) as a voluntary and country-led commitment. In improving the indicators, the reviewing and reclassifying of tier III indicators should be dealt with as soon as possible.

The prime goal of UNIDO is to assist countries in achieving successful industrialization, as included in sustainable development goal (SDG 9). Its work is connected with the social sector, economic development and environment. As countries become advanced they become high-level contributors. UNIDO’s activities include working to eliminate the gender gap, as well as for green industry and use of environmental resources. It supports developing countries, especially least developed countries, in capacity-building to develop their own indicators.

Francesca Perucci, Chief of Statistical Services Branch, United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), noted how much the work of the IAEG-SDGs has shifted to implementation with a renewed sense of urgency. There is a lot of focus on capacity-building and focus on data sources for production of data for indicators and also for policy-makers for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda).

Shyam Upadhyaya, Chief Statistician, UNIDO, also provided information on the venue during the Opening session.