SPX Global Network Meeting, MIDEST 2014

On Wednesday 5th November 2014, the UNIDO SPX Programme organised a network meeting in the ambit of the MIDEST Industrial Subcontracting Exhibition, held in Paris, France between the 4th and 7th November. Participants from around 28 SPX member countries participated in this event which, similar to previous years, served to convene the international SPX network, providing the opportunity for UNIDO to present the status and strategic vision of the SPX Programme as well as provide the ideal platform for business to business matchmaking discussions. Particularly, this year’s SPX network event comprised a roundtable discussion on the theme of ‘Local content and industrial subcontracting: Challenges and SPX solutions at the national level’. The round table discussion served to provide an overview of specific country experiences in positioning the SPX Programme as a prime solution to achieve emerging national local content goals and ensuing industrial subcontracting objectives. Discussions where animated by participant interventions which highlighted the crucial role that SPX programme plays in the process of drafting and implementing local content policies at the national level. The UNIDO SPX Programme increasingly serves to equip and enable national institutions and organisations with the right programmatic framework, tools and methodologies with which to manage the different pillars of effective local content management and development in their respective countries. As a result, the SPX Programme increasingly serves to enable local host institutions to become prime drivers of inclusive and sustainable industrial development supporting subcontracting linkages and exploring opportunities for supplier development. Interventions from representatives from Mozambique, Nigeria, Iraq, Cameroon and South Africa highlighted the growing need for further UNIDO technical cooperation and support to help developing economies and private enterprises address the emerging challenges emanating from local content policy frameworks. During the MIDEST Exhibition days, UNIDO organised a pavilion which hosted and supported several private enterprises and various SPX host institutions in their networking activities and in exploring B2B and matchmaking opportunities with both international buyers and suppliers. UNIDO SPX Programme has been present in MIDEST for the past 3 years. This active participation serves as an important international platform available to SPX host centres and respective enterprises to enhance internationalisation and investment promotion drive of enterprises in respective countries. Click here