Several heads of state and government, ministers, senior representatives of international organizations and donors will gather at the International Atomic Energy Agency next week to review its efforts to help countries benefit from the peaceful uses of nuclear technology in key development areas such as food security, human health and energy. The International Conference on the IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme: Sixty Years and Beyond – Contributing to Development, will take place from 30 May to 1 June in Vienna, Austria.
The event brings together over 1,000 participants from 152 countries for the first time to take stock and discuss the way forward for the IAEA’s Technical Cooperation Programme. The Programme enables the Agency to support its Member States through training, technology transfer, and the establishment of networks to share expertise and information on the peaceful applications of nuclear technology. Since its inception in 1957, the Programme has trained more than 48,000 scientists and engineers through fellowships and scientific visits. Today, around 900 Technical Cooperation projects are active at any given time around the world.
Topics to be discussed include the IAEA’s assistance to countries in human health, food security, energy planning and nuclear and radiation safety, among other areas. Regional initiatives will be showcased, including the Agency’s assistance to combat the Zika virus in Latin America and to address water scarcity in Africa, and in the remediation of radiation-contaminated land in Europe and tackling air pollution in Asia.
The conference will take place in Boardroom Room B-M1, M Building, Vienna International Centre.
The event is open to media.
The opening session will include remarks by the following dignitaries:
- IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano
- His Excellency Tabaré Vázquez, President of Uruguay
- Her Excellency Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, President of Mauritius
- Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina, Honourable Prime Minister, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
- His Excellency Tebogo Joseph Seokolo, Chairman of the IAEA Board of Governors
- Mr René Castro Salazar, Assistant Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Live video streaming will be available for the entire conference from Tuesday, 30 May, 9:30 a.m. Please note that the video stream will be broadcast on a view-only channel.
A detailed programme and additional information can be found on the conference website.
Some speakers will be available for interviews. Please contact the IAEA Press Office for more details.
Accreditation
All journalists are requested to inform the IAEA Press Office of their plans to attend. Journalists with permanent credentials to the VIC need no additional credentials. We encourage those journalists who do not yet have permanent accreditation, to request it at UNIS Vienna.
Others should contact Michelle Gruensteidl for accreditation. Please email m.gruensteidl@iaea.org or call [+43-1] 2600-22048 or [+43-1] 2600-21273.