UNIDO’s Investment and Technology Promotion Network (ITP Network)

UNIDO established its first Investment Promotion Services in 1976, which later became Investment and Technology Promotion Offices (ITPOs). Since then, nine ITPOs have been established in the Global North and South, constituting the ITP Network:

Each ITPO is motivated to follow the network’s objective to contribute to the reduction of development imbalances by brokering investment and technology agreements between developed and developing countries and economies in transition.  

Aligned with UNIDO’s mandate of inclusive and sustainable industrial development, the ITPOs aim at bridging global investment and technology gaps by

  • opening up opportunities for investors and technology suppliers,
  • finding potential partners for businesses in developed and developing countries
  • offering unique services to both entrepreneurs and business institutions.

The ITPOs work closely together for a greater impact of joint investment and technology promotion activities. The network draws on the unique strengths and competencies of each ITPO.

In order to establish strong relationships between investors and technology suppliers and their potential partners, the ITP Network continuously

  • provides support through partnerships,
  • promotes capacity building activities,
  • offers advisory services,
  • organizes global forum events,
  • carries out investment and technology project assessments,
  • and promotes matchmaking activities.


Hereby, the ITPOs act as impartial advisors and brokers across the entire investment promotion and technology transfer lifecycles, while the ITP Network Secretariat in Vienna ensures effective networking, information and knowledge sharing amongst the ITPOs.

Under the Directorate of Trade, Digitalization, Technology and Agri-Business (DTA), within, the Department of Digitalization Technology and Innovation, the ITP Network forms part of UNIDO’s ITP Division where the ITP Network Secretariat is organizationally located. The ITP Network continues to expand and diversify its presence and services, always with the overarching objective of accelerating inclusive and sustainable industrial development.

ITPO Heads with ITP Network Coordinator and DTA Managing Director

(from left to right: Hyundong Cho (Head of ITPO Korea), Sergey Korotkov (Head of ITPO Russia), Diana Battaggia (Head of ITPO Italy), Rolf Steltemeier (Head of ITPO Germany), Weixi Gong (Chief, UNIDO ITP Division and ITP Network Coordinator), Bernardo Calzadilla-Sarmiento (Managing Director, UNIDO Directorate of Digitalization, Technology and Agribusiness), Xiaolei Zhao (Head of ITPO Shanghai), Yuko Yasunaga (Head of ITPO Japan), Yabin Wu (Head of ITPO Beijing)