Iran plays crucial role in global energy supply: UNIDO official

Tehran, Oct 8, IRNA - The United Nations Industrial Development Organization's (UNIDO)
representative to Iran said that the country which is one of the
influential oil producers and founders of OPEC has undoubtedly played
an important role in energy supply worldwide.

W. Gong added at a seminar on energy with an emphasis on petrochemical
downstream industry on Tuesday that all countries need oil as the
driving force of economy.

Therefore, production and consumption of oil has turned to one of the
most important criteria for measuring the rate of economic development
in the world, he said.

Stating that UNIDO is responsible for promoting industrialization in
the developing countries, Gong said that energy and environment are
among the main priorities of the UN body for global development.

He also underlined that UNIDO enjoys expertise and technical
capabilities in energy-related areas, development of private sector,
promoting investment and environment-friendly production.

Since UNIDO spearheads UN energy workshop in Iran as of January 2008,
it attaches a special significance to its strategic role in
implementing energy projects and is ready to fulfill its commitments
in line with materialization of the targeted goals.

According to Gong, downstream industry was the first sector for which
Iran sought UNIDO's help.