- UNITAR launched Prosperity Alliance Frankfurt at a special ceremony held in Stuttgart and Frankfurt, Germany, led by UNITAR Director Mihoko Kumamoto and Lenovo China Sustainability General Manager Xuan Wang.
- The Prosperity Alliance Frankfurt will serve as a regional hub for interntional trade, frontier technology and ESG related training and innovation, inclusive growth, and cross-sector collaboration between China, Germany and other global partners.
- A delegation jointly organized by UNITAR and Prosperity Alliance Frankfurt visited key UN institutions and leading European enterprises in Germany and Switzerland.
UNITAR
12 August 2025, Geneva, Switzerland – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) launched Prosperity Alliance Frankfurt on 25 June 2025. As part of the launch, members of the Alliance went on a week-long environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and sustainable development study tour across Germany and Switzerland.
Supported by UNITAR and hosted by Censere Group, Prosperity Alliance Frankfurt will be a regional hub for ESG training and innovation, inclusive growth, and cross-sector collaboration between China, Germany, and other global partners. It will bring together leading public and private sector representatives to strengthen global cooperation in ESG practices and to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Frankfurt.
Visits to UN Institutions and Major European Companies
UNITAR
The inaugural study tour delegation was joined by representatives from Lenovo Group, Mercedes-Benz, Censere GmbH, and other partners. The group visited UNITAR headquarters, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the German Development Cooperation Agency (GIZ), Mercedes-Benz global headquarters, and the China Investment Promotion Agency (Germany), among others.
Discussions during the site visits focused on digital transformation, vocational training, green finance, women’s leadership in ESG, and the localization of UNITAR’s ESG training for European markets.
- At the ITU, Director Dr. Cosmas Zavazava praised Lenovo’s global ESG leadership and extended an invitation for future collaboration at the upcoming AI for Good Summit and the ITU Assembly in China in 2027.
- At the WTO, the delegation engaged in in-depth dialogue on impact investing, fair trade, and ESG-related due diligence in global supply chains.
- At GIZ Headquarters, Dr. Thorsten Giehler, newly appointed Head of Economic and Social Development, welcomed deeper ties with multilateral actors such as UNITAR and bilateral partners to foster inclusive and green development.
The delegation also visited the Mercedes-Benz Museum and joined a closed-door ESG seminar with the Mercedes-Benz sustainability team.
As part of the study tour, the delegation participated in the 2nd China-Europe ESG Best Practice Conference in Stuttgart, Germany, where Lenovo Group received the Best Digital Transformation Case Award for its dual-focus strategy on smart manufacturing and low-carbon innovation. The award recognized Lenovo’s leadership in ESG and its commitment to sustainable development.
A Future as a Key Player in ESG-Driven Development
The study tour concluded with a visit to Censere Group, where the 2025–2028 strategic road map for Prosperity Alliance Frankfurt was presented, and Ms. Xuan Wang, General Manager of Lenovo China’s Sustainable Development Division, was appointed as the Rotating Chair for 2025–2026.
The mission wrapped up with a shared sense of purpose among members to build a high-impact ecosystem for sustainable innovation. Following on Prosperity Alliance Frankfurt Director Mr. Jian Wang’s remarks that European companies are actively contributing new ideas and actions to further ESG, Director Ms. Mihoko Kumamoto of the UNITAR Division for Prosperity expressed UNITAR’s expectations for Prosperity Alliance Frankfurt to become a key player in shaping ESG-driven development.
Frankfurt, as a financial and logistics hub at the heart of Europe, has tremendous strategic importance for advancing the SDGs. We believe the new Prosperity Alliance Frankfurt will play a vital role in shaping international cooperation, particularly in ESG-driven development. – Mihoko Kumamoto, Director, Division for Prosperity, UNITAR
UNITAR looks forward to continuing to work with partners in Frankfurt and beyond to accelerate ESG excellence and inclusive prosperity worldwide.
About Prosperity Alliance
The UNITAR Prosperity Alliance develops and promotes projects in social and economic development, frontier technology, trade and business facilitation, climate actions, and more in corresponding regions. It showcases sustainable economic development practices, international exchanges, and talent training for sustainable economic development. The activities of the Prosperity Alliance target local, national, and regional authorities, representatives of international organizations, civil society organizations, private companies, and academic institutions, based on the specificities and capacity-building needs of the region.
About UNITAR
The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is a dedicated training arm of the United Nations. In 2024, UNITAR trained approximately 550,000 learners around the world to support their actions for a better future. UNITAR has a global presence, with offices in Geneva, Hiroshima, New York and Bonn and networks around the world. Find out more at www.unitar.org