VIENNA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The director general of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Li Yong on Monday invited member countries including the United States back to the organization.
"Our doors are open to any former member state," Li said here at a press conference to mark the 50th anniversary of the organization.
Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Britain and Portugal are amongst those who have chosen to leave the organization over the past few decades.
It was noted by UNIDO managing director Philippe Scholtes that upon its departure from UNIDO in 1996, the United States left a 70-million-U.S.-dollar debt behind, that has also since incurred interest.
Despite the departures by larger industrial states it was said, however, that there are no difficulties in financing projects in developing countries, with 90 percent of funding to come from voluntary contributions and not the normal UNIDO budget.
Li said the reduction of poverty in such countries is still the primary goal for his organization, with industrialization projects targeted at tackling this.
