The UNIDO Centre for International Industrial Co-operation was established in 1989 within a framework of the Agreement between UNIDO and the Government of the USSR. The Agreement was renewed in 1992 with the Government of Russian Federation.
 
The main purpose of the UNIDO Centre of International Industrial Cooperation in the Russian Federation, defined by the Agreement, is to promote international cooperation in the economic, technological, industrial and scientific spheres between Russian enterprises, associations and organizations and firms from developed and developing countries.
 
The UNIDO Centre acts as a catalyst and source of technical expertise in the design, organization and implementation of key events related to investment promotion in the Russian Federation. It will act, if required, as an efficient channel of communication to bring UNIDO programmes, expertise, documentation, studies to the attention of interested authorities, organizations and enterprises in the Russian Federation.
 
The UNIDO Centre takes full advantage of UNIDO’s integrated programmes in other countries as well as of the programmes and projects implemented by UNIDO in the Russian Federation.
 
In the Russian Federation, UNIDO CIIC provides the following services:
 

• Access to investment information, government and private business institutions and contacts in other countries through the UNIDO worldwide network;
• Direct communication with and access to entrepreneurs worldwide;
• Participation at UNIDO-sponsored and/or organized investment and technology promotion events;
• Upgrading skills of local staff of investment-related institutions by using UNIDO investment promotion methodologies and tools, e.g. project identification, screening, evaluation and promotion, building of strategic business alliances etc.

 
UNIDO CIIC will contribute to a substantial increase of the number of industrial projects implemented in the Russian Federation with foreign participation as well as to open up new markets in developing countries and countries with economies in transition for potential Russian investors.
 
As a result of UNIDO Centre activities SMEs in the Russian Federation will enhance their knowledge and experience on how to establish cooperation with foreign partners in other countries. The UNIDO Centre is expected to be closely linked with UNIDO worldwide Investment and Technology Promotion Network. This will result in an increased number of investment and cooperation projects under promotion, negotiation and implementation.
 
UNIDO Centre will give special attention to environmental considerations, the development of SMEs and the generation of employment in line with UNIDO strategies and policies in these fields.
 
Major target beneficiaries of the UNIDO Centre are enterprises and organizations in the Russian Federation including industrial SMEs interested in cooperation with foreign partners.
 
The UNIDO Centre will benefit Russian institutions involved in investment promotion by upgrading skills of staff of these institutions in investment promotion tools and methodologies as well as by expanding coverage of their activities.
 
The target beneficiaries are also private enterprises, institutions and governments in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, which will have increased possibilities to enter into different forms of partnerships with industrial enterprises in the Russian Federation.