Austria and UNIDO Sign Joint Declaration to Support Global Impact Investment Foundation

VIENNA, November 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Major milestone for Impact Investment and Social Entrepreneurship achieved 

The Joint Declaration signed by Austria's Chancellor Christian Kern and UNIDO Director General LI Yong signals the start of a cooperation with UNIDO and the Global Impact Investment Foundation (GIIF). Impact investment is one of the key instruments for implementing the United Nation's Agenda on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161125/442934 )

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161125/442933 )

The Global Impact Investment Foundation is focusing on promoting and driving Impact Investing globally by developing appropriate market structures and tools to encourage and enable social entrepreneurs and link them to impact investors.

Alon Shklarek, entrepreneur, impact investor and President of GIIF sees the signing of the Joint Declaration as a crucial milestone. "Social entrepreneurs are the drivers behind the progress in addressing the sustainable development goals. This signature and the active support of the Republic of Austria and UNIDO of the Global Impact Investing Foundation marks a very important milestone for each such social entrepreneur and the Impact Investing Agenda as a whole."

Chancellor Christian Kern stressed the importance of cooperation for Austria. "We have to give people the chance and a perspective on good living conditions in their home countries and do not have to flee. Impact Investment is one of the most sensible ways to help people in their home countries and cooperate with their countries. With the Joint Declaration, we want to jointly with UNIDO establish Vienna in cooperation with the GIIF as a pioneer for Impact Investment", emphasizes the Chancellor.

"The impact investment market is now at a significant turning point as it enters the mainstream." said UNIDO's Director General LI Yong, who further expressed the Organization's keen interest in developing and exchanging good practices and new methodologies with GIIF.

http://www.giifoundation.org

For further information please contact:
Richard Vrzal
contact@giifoundation.org
+43-676/5114338