The growing trend among Southern countries to look not only to reducing poverty within their own borders but also to raise the development prospects of other developing countries is exhibited across a range of countries, including strong emerging economies and other South-South pivotal countries.

Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations

Developmentally-focused South-South flows of finance, technology, and know-how must be recognized and further encouraged as an increasingly important dimension of development co-operation.

Helen Clark, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme

Southern-grown technologies often have the benefit that they are tailor-made for the environment in which they are eventually deployed, and as such, many, often simple technologies, can have a widespread impact on development and poverty reduction.

Globally, South-South interactions have had a proven and remarkable impact on development, with the expectation that by 2030, South-South cooperation will constitute one of the main driving forces in worldwide growth.

The thematic focus of the Expo in 2012 will be Energy, Climate Change, and South-South Cooperation. As the Chair of UN-Energy, and considering UNIDO's mandate in this field, I feel that we are uniquely positioned to squarely address this area of particular importance to global development.

Kandeh K. Yumkella, Director-General, United Nations Industrial Development Organization