By Favour Nnabugwu

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Heineken, the international brewer, have signed pact to promote inclusive growth and boost sustainable development in Nigeria and six other countries.

Some of the sustainability activities the duo intend to concentrate on includes water, renewable energy and expand supply of Heineken brand in the country alongside Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Mexico and Tunisia.

UNIDO’s Director-General, LI Yong while commenting on the partnership in the agency’s newsletter, clearly explained the term inclusive to mean that all countries, all peoples, the private sector, civil society organizations, and multinational development institution.

He said, “There should be equal opportunity for all peoples to create industries, to create manufacturing activities. All countries should have this kind of opportunity, and the benefits produced or generated by this process of industrial development should create shared prosperity”.

“As a key driver of this growth, industry must play its part by becoming significantly cleaner and vastly more energy- and resource-efficient, to guarantee the health, prosperity and security of our peoples”.

LI affirmed that the partnership with Heineken will help to transform the ambitious goals that both have jointly set into concrete actions.

“Ultimately, we want to improve the lives of people in developing countries and make a meaningful contribution to inclusive and sustainable development while, at the same time, creating flourishing markets that foster business opportunities”.

Commenting on the partnership, the Chief Corporate Relations Officer of Heineken, Sean O’Neill said the partnership with UNIDO will help company deliver it commitments that lie at the heart of our Brewing a Better World philosophy while it will support its desire to create an approach to inclusive growth across all of our stakeholders.”