A new role for ecologist Isabelle Durant

14/07/2017

In September, Isabelle Durant will become Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). This subsidiary organ of the United Nations General Assembly aims to integrate developing countries into the global economy

The Belgian government had no hesitation in supporting the candidature of the former Deputy Prime Minister and former European Deputy, who has a wealth of high-level international experience in politics, diplomacy and development. Isabelle Durant has worked with public authorities, the private sector and civil society at federal, regional, European and global levels.

The ecologist, currently a member of the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region, has occupied the positions of Federal Deputy Prime Minister (1999-2003) and Vice President of the European Parliament (2009-2014). She has also worked as a senior expert in local governance in Algeria (2015) and as a member of the European Union's parliamentary delegation to the Islamic Republic of Iran, Myanmar and Haiti.

Based in Geneva, Isabelle Durant will be the Deputy to the Secretary General of UNCTAD, the Kenyan Mukhisa Kituyi, and will take over from the Swede Joakim Reiter.