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On January 31, 2025, Professor Ying Fangtian, Director General of the World Eco-Design Organization (WEDO), along with Mr. Wen Guoshu, Deputy Director General, and Dr. Wang Qiurui, Secretary-General, were invited to attend the United Nations Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries (UN Technology Bank) Council Meeting in Istanbul, Türkiye. The meeting focused on how technology can drive sustainable development in the least developed countries (LDCs), with key discussions on technology demonstrations, the launch of strategic plan, and strengthening the framework for technological cooperation. Participants included Under Secretary-General UN-ONHRLLS Ms. Rabab Fatima, UN Technology Bank Council Chair Professor Hasan Mandal, Managing Director Mr. Deodat Maharaj, and Permanent Representatives of Nepal, Gambia, Malawi, Eritrea, Bhutan, Cape Verde, and Ireland to the United Nations. The meeting also welcomed representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Istanbul Technical University(ITU), the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the TÜBİTAK, the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and the Turkish government.
WEDO delegation with Under Secretary-General UN-ONHRLLS Ms. Rabab Fatima and UN Technology Bank Managing Director Mr. Deodat Maharaj
During the meeting, participants showcased the latest green technologies, digital transformation, and inclusive growth applications, and explored their practical application in the LDCs. The UN Technology Bank also launched its 2025-2027 strategic plan, focusing on capacity building in digital transformation, green technology, and sustainable energy in LDCs. Under Secretary-General UN-ONHRLLS Ms. Rabab Fatima emphasized at the meeting, “This Strategic Plan will set the stage for a transformative new chapter for the UN Technology Bank.” Additionally, the meeting discussed how strengthening international cooperation and technology transfer can help LDCs better integrate into the global economy, particularly in terms of technological innovation and the collaborative development of the green economy.
The UN Technology Bank's official website released the 2025-2027 strategic plan
During the meeting, Professor Ying Fangtian, Director General of WEDO, stated that eco-design is a key pathway to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He highlighted the organization’s contributions to the LDCs, focusing on projects related to educational empowerment, technology inclusivity, women’s leadership, and partnerships. In particular, the International Design Education Program (IDE), which aims to cultivate innovative talent in LDCs, fills a technological gap in the field of eco-design and significantly enhances local innovation capacity and technological application levels. This project not only promotes design thinking and sustainability concepts but also provides practical opportunities for participants to address their countries’ environmental and social challenges. The project has become a core component of the UN Technology Bank’s support for technological innovation and capacity building in LDCs.
Professor Ying Fangtian, Director General of WEDO, delivered a presentation
After the meeting, the UN Technology Bank conducted an exclusive interview with Professor Ying, where he shared the long-term vision of collaboration between WEDO and the UN Technology Bank. WEDO particularly emphasized the IDE program, noting that the strategic cooperation between both parties is grounded in the shared goal of advancing the SDGs. The cooperation covers critical areas such as technological innovation, educational empowerment, and women’s leadership. Since its launch, the IDE program has provided 150 scholarship opportunities to participants from LDCs. In the future, the program plans to expand under the leadership of the UN, collaborating with UN agencies and embassies of various countries. The goal is to foster local innovative talent, promote sustainable technology development, and facilitate the integration of LDCs into the global economy. Furthermore, WEDO highlighted the importance of gender equality in education, underscoring its commitment to promoting gender equality and social inclusion. Participants praised WEDO’s leadership in advancing the SDGs and expressed confidence in the deepening collaboration between both parties in education, science and technology, and industrial development. During the discussions, WEDO and the UN Technology Bank also reached positive agreements on jointly organizing the 2025 World Eco-Design Conference (Bangkok) and on industry capacity-building initiatives.
Exclusive interview with Professor Ying by the UN Technology Bank
Visit of relevant institutions in Türkiye
During their visit to Istanbul, the WEDO delegation was invited to visit the UN Technology Bank, Istanbul Technical University, and the TÜBİTAK MAM, where they held a roundtable discussion. The meeting focused on key issues such as technology transfer, education and training, and green technologies, with initial agreements on future collaboration. Moving forward, WEDO will actively work with these institutions to drive innovative technology development in LDCs and contribute to achieving the SDGs.
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