LocationsOpening Remarks by Mr James George at the Rushan Project Launch Ceremony
December 6, 2023
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in China, James George, delivers opening remarks virtually at the Rushan project launch ceremony.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning,
I deeply regret not being able to join you in person in Rushan today due to a unexpected conflict in my schedule.
On behalf of UNDP China, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all of you for joining us today for the Rushan Project Launch Ceremony.
Today marks yet another exciting chapter of our long-standing engagement with CICETE and national and sub-national partners that began over 4 decades ago – with the sole aim of advancing new, innovative and catalytic models to advance sustainable development agenda in China.
In recent years, we have witnessed the tremendous impact of digital technologies on our societies and economies, reshaping how we live, work, interact, govern, and develop.
These digital advancements, if leveraged correctly, can provide us with a unique opportunity to accelerate progress towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the aspirations as outlined in the 14th Five Year Plans and further accelerate the rural revitalization agenda of the Government.
Let us step back just two decades and see how far and rapidly we have come.
The UN ICT Task Force established in March 2001 by the UN Secretary-General at the request of the Economic and Social Council, has also emphasized the enabling role of ICTs in the development process.
At the core of the premise is that digital technology can be both an enabler, catalyst and connector to accelerate development.
UNDP began its global engagement in the area of leveraging the power of digital technologies in 2000 and we have kept evolving our work in this area ever since.
In response to the rapid digital change, UNDP launched our first digital strategy in 2019 and have subsequently updated it for the 2022-2025 period.
With a long history of providing project-level digital support for partners, UNDP’s new digital strategy continues these efforts by supporting countries in building an inclusive, ethical, and sustainable digital economy and societies.
At UNDP, we adopt a whole-of-society approach by collaborating with governments, local stakeholders, the private sector, and digital innovators to achieve our shared objectives.
We believe digitalization can be utilized for accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
"At UNDP, we adopt a whole-of-society approach by collaborating with governments, local stakeholders, the private sector, and digital innovators to achieve our shared objectives. We believe digitalization can be utilized for accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030."
Ladies and gentlemen,
We have seen how digital technologies have been rapidly developed and deployed.
During the Covid-19 period, in a span of just 12 months, UNDP helped to roll-out close to 600 digital solutions in 82 countries in an urgent response to the pandemic.
These include 96 data collection systems, 71 e-commerce systems, 61 e-learning platforms, and 149 e-governance systems.
Through these diverse initiatives, we have been able to address immediate challenges in various sectors and pave the way for long-term sustainable development.
Similarly, in China, we have been fully leveraging the power of digital technologies.
One such sector includes our work with CICETE and partners to support the sustainable development of MSMEs, particularly in rural China.
UNDP partnered with CICETE and Duxiaoman in 2022 to launch a project that introduced innovative digital tools and bridged the financing gap to empower rural MSMEs, while focusing on women-owned enterprises and the revitalization of rural industries.
Over the past year, we have witnessed remarkable achievements in the pilot areas in Fujian, Chongqing, and Shaanxi through the establishment of local Sustainable Development Innovation Service Centers.
These centers are supporting the promotion of digital agriculture platforms for local industries, and the organization of capacity-building training programs for MSME owners, particularly women and young entrepreneurs.
Today, I am delighted to welcome our newest project area: Rushan of Weihai City.
Weihai is one of the National green finance reform and innovation pilot zones and Rushan has been playing an important role in piloting innovative green finance solutions and promoting the healthy development of private small and micro enterprises.
Lessons from here as an innovation pilot will be beneficial to be shared more widely nationwide through our collaboration with CICETE.
Over the next two years, we look forward to partnering with the Rushan government, leveraging global development experiences, professional resources, and innovative tools to drive digitalization and the green transition of the industry in China.
Working closely with all of you in Rushan, we are deeply committed to accelerating the sustainable development of local MSMEs and farmers and empowering women and young entrepreneurs.
Together, we can strive to ensure that no one is left behind in this transformative process, and we hope to share our valuable experiences from Rushan through our regional and global networks.
In closing, I would like to thank everyone who has supported today's launch ceremony.
Although I cannot be present with you today, I sincerely hope to visit Rushan in the near future.
Thank you very much, and 谢谢!
