“First, we have to end the war. Then, we have to restart the factories,” says Basher Abdullah, advisor to Sudan’s Minister of Industry and Trade.
Like many of the world’s poorest countries, Sudan’s attempts to develop its economy are severely hampered by the conflict. However, even in the midst of brutal civil war, the UN continues to offer support and a path to development.
First, we need to end the war. So, we have to restart the factories.
The fighting appears to be a world away from the vast King Abdul Aziz Conference Center in the Saudi capital, where government ministers gathered Saturday for a family photo to mark the Eleventh Ministerial Meeting of Least Developed Countries.
Hailing from Asia, Africa and the Caribbean, the ministers have one thing in common: each of them represents one of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable nations, officially designated by the UN as least developed countries (LDCs).
Family photo at the 11th LDC Ministerial Conference, Riyadh (November 2025)
‘Yes to global solidarity’
“We need a decisive change of direction,” said Gerd Müller, Director-General of UNIDO, in his opening remarks to the assembled ministers, reminding them that industrialization is “essential to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (the 17 global goals adopted by all UN Member States in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development) and building resilience to crises.
“We need to say yes to global solidarity, say yes to multilateralism, say yes to preventing the gap between rich and poor from growing even further,” Müller added.
He noted that 500 Nobel laureates and economists are calling on the world’s major economies (the G20, currently meeting in South Africa) to act: these leading experts have highlighted the fact that, between 2000 and 2024, the richest one percent of the world’s population increased their wealth by 41 percent, while the poorest half of the world’s population increased theirs by only one percent.
Müller noted that the world’s least developed countries are particularly vulnerable to all kinds of economic shocks, ranging from the climate crisis to trade tariffs and major cuts to foreign aid and development support by richer nations.
“The losses,” he warned, “will be devastating in sectors such as textiles, leather, agribusiness and equipment, all vital to local livelihoods and economies.”
Building resilience across the industry
UNIDO’s mission is to help countries weather these crises and, through industrialization, become more resilient and improve their lives: in Bangladesh, UNIDO training programs have helped garment factories meet international standards, creating millions of jobs for women; and in Nepal, young people are being equipped with digital and coding skills, closing the digital divide.
Meanwhile, in Sudan, the agency supports agribusiness, targeting small farmers and entrepreneurs, and helping youth and women access finance, preparing the private sector for a time of peace and stability.
Two important outcomes were achieved on Saturday: guidelines were agreed to increase UNIDO support (focusing on technology and knowledge transfer) and ministers committed to modernizing the industry, finding the money to make it a reality and working more closely together in line with the UN’s global goals.
The commitments made in Riyadh mark a decisive step in ensuring that millions of people in the world’s most vulnerable nations can thrive in an interconnected global economy.
Conference results
The Eleventh LDC Ministerial Conference was convened by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in partnership with the Office of the United Nations High Representative for LDCs, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS).
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Ministerial Declaration adopted – reaffirm the commitment to inclusive industrialization and resilience.
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UNIDO operational strategy supported – roadmap to extend support to LDCs until 2031.
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Strengthened associations – new funding commitments, capacity building and technology transfer.
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Agreed policy frameworks – youth empowerment, gender equality and climate adaptation highlighted as priorities.