Barbados and UNIDO sign project document for the Global SIDS Industrial Transformation Platform at UNIDO Regional Conference in Uruguay

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Government of Barbados signed the Project Document for the Global Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Industrial Transformation Platform during the UNIDO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean 2026.

 The signing ceremony was held on the margins of the UNIDO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean 2026 in Montevideo, Uruguay. The Conference brought together government leaders, development partners, private sector representatives and international organizations under the theme “Driving the Future of Sustainable Industrialization and Economic Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean.” The conference served as a high-level platform for advancing regional dialogue, strengthening cooperation, and mobilizing partnerships to accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

The project document was signed by Senator Jonathan Reid, Minister of Innovation, Industry, Science and Technology of Barbados, and Gerd Müller, Director General of UNIDO. The project document reinforces the strategic partnership between Barbados and UNIDO to position SIDS at the forefront of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This signing builds on the landmark launch of the Global SIDS Industrial Transformation Platform announced earlier this year and follows ongoing high-level discussions between UNIDO and the Government of Barbados on advancing Barbados as a global hub for sustainable industrial transformation across SIDS. 

The Global SIDS Industrial Transformation Platform, which is anchored in the UNIDO-Barbados Global SIDS Hub for Sustainable Development, will advance innovation-driven industrial development in SIDS through the application of artificial intelligence, digital technologies, clean energy solutions and resilient production systems, with Barbados serving as the first implementation partner.

  Through this partnership, Barbados and UNIDO will work together to establish practical mechanisms for technology adoption, industrial modernization, innovation support and capacity development, while creating opportunities for collaboration with governments, development partners, academia and the private sector.

 Speaking following the signing ceremony, both parties highlighted the importance of ensuring that SIDS can harness emerging technologies and innovation to strengthen economic resilience, improve competitiveness and advance sustainable development outcomes. The initiative is expected to serve as a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange among SIDS while supporting national and regional industrial development priorities.

 On the same day, Minister Reid also presented the Global SIDS Industrial Transformation Platform in a high-level panel on artificial intelligence and SIDS, entitled “How AI is Shaping Barbados and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS)”, where he emphasized its role in acting as a mechanism for advancing innovation and underscored Barbados’ commitment to leveraging emerging technologies to support sustainable development, competitiveness and collaboration across SIDS.

For more information on the UNIDO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean 2026, visit:

  UNIDO Regional Conference Information

This story was first published by UNIDO at https://www.unido.org/