Cameroonian economist, Célestin Monga, has been appointed as Managing Director at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the UN body mandated to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development in developing countries and economies in transition.

Monga is currently Director of the Oxford University Press Handbook of Africa and Economics. He is also a leading member of the Swiss based Quantum Global group’s Advisory Board. Quantum’s work targets African private equity, investment and infrastructure interests.

“I am humbled that UNIDO’s Director-General Li Yong offered me this new opportunity,” said Monga. “For more than two centuries, industrialization has been the main engine of growth and prosperity in the world and has helped lift out of poverty hundreds of millions of people.”

He however noted that the current modes of industrialization are neither inclusive nor properly sustainable. This realisation has led the Member States of UNIDO to adopt the December 2013 Lima Declaration in which they agreed to promote Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development.

Monga also expressed his appreciation to Quantum Global group Founder, Jean Claude Bastos De Morais, who he said provided strong support to the Oxford Handbook of Africa and Economics and the Young African Scholars Program, which he noted have beamed the spotlight on the work of many bright African researchers.

He thanked his Advisory Board colleagues at Quantum Global group for their support, adding that he looked forward to working with them “to foster synergies between the private sector and development institutions, and advance the global agenda of employment generation and social peace.”

De Morais congratulated the former Lead economist at the World Bank, describing him as a “distinguished international figure who has brought tremendous vision and wisdom to our work.”

He expressed delight at Monga’s decision to continue being part of the Quantum Global group Advisory Board where his intellect, experience and insights are of immense benefit.

UNIDO’s activities across developing countries and transition economies are grouped under three thematic areas: poverty reduction through productive activities, trade-capacity building, and energy and environment.