United front: Nga and Muller shaking hands in Vienna, in conjunction with WCS 2025.
PETALING JAYA: Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming has called for innovative approaches to the green economy and low-carbon industrial parks, in a planned collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (Unido).
Nga made the call in his capacity as UN-Habitat Assembly president while on an official visit to Vienna in conjunction with the World Cities Summit (WCS) 2025.
In a statement yesterday, Nga said he presented the plan during a meeting with Unido director-general Gerd Muller, where he proposed the development of integrated international guidelines between UN-Habitat and Unido for green industrial buildings.
Under the proposed framework, UN-Habitat would advocate for the adoption and implementation of these standards among local councils worldwide, while Unido would act as the accrediting body for buildings that comply with the criteria.
The Housing and Local Government Ministry said the proposal, which aims to reduce carbon emissions from industrial buildings and promote the development of low-carbon industrial parks, was positively received by Müller.
It said Nga noted that sustainable development must be rooted in job creation and inclusive economic development, regardless of urban or rural areas.
“Unido has a critical role to play in this transformation, particularly through its focus areas such as the circular economy, green manufacturing and agro-industry.
“The time to act is now. We must create jobs and empower local councils as part of our pathway toward green inclusive cities and we need to ensure that progress is anchored in innovation and measurable outcomes,” he said.
The ministry said other key outcomes of the meeting was the mutual agreement to reactivate the memorandum of understanding signed between Unido and UN-Habitat in 2017, where both parties agreed to intensify collaboration on climate-resilient initiatives and empowering local councils, especially rural areas.
The ministry said Nga, who was accompanied by Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif and the Ambassador of Malaysia to Austria and Slovakia, Ikram Mohammad Ibrahim, also visited the Mayor of Vienna, Dr Michael Ludwig.
The Malaysian delegation toured Vienna City Hall and was scheduled to visit Seestadt Aspern, Vienna’s flagship smart district yesterday, together with Singapore’s Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat.
The ministry said the tour is to explore how urbanisation can successfully integrate smart city technologies, modern architecture, green spaces and recreational facilities, while preserving Vienna’s historical character and rich cultural heritage.
“Vienna’s urban success story proves that with vision and strong governance, historical preservation and modern innovation can coexist. As president of the UN-Habitat Assembly, I look forward to sharing these insights with our 193 member states as well as bringing them home,” Nga said.
