Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Uganda has been elected to the Industrial Development Board (IDB) of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) for the 2025–2027 term, strengthening the country’s voice in shaping global industrial policy.
The 53-member IDB oversees the implementation of UNIDO’s work programme, scrutinises both regular and operational budgets, and makes key policy recommendations to the General Conference — including those concerning the appointment of the Director General.
Uganda secured its seat during elections held at the 21st UNIDO General Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which ran from 23–27 November 2025.
The Ugandan delegation was led by H.E. Isaac Sebulime, Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and included officials from Uganda’s Permanent Mission in Vienna and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.
This year’s General Conference was convened as the Global Industry Summit, structured around three major thematic areas: Investment and Partnership, Women and Empowerment, and Generation Future.
During the summit, Nature Bio Foods, an Indian company with active operations in Uganda, won the UNIDO One World Sustainability Award in the Sustainable Supply Chains category. A subsidiary of LT Foods, Nature Bio Foods established a processing plant in Uganda in 2023 and currently works with 16,000 farmers producing soybeans, sorghum, chia seeds, and sesame.
Uganda’s election to the IDB marks a significant opportunity to advance the country’s industrial agenda on the global stage.
