Denmark has hosted UN organizations since 1957. Hosting the UN provides significant benefits for the UN development organisations and thus also for the countries receiving development assistance through these organisations.

Danish Minister for Development Cooperation, Christian Friis Bach says: “The new UN City sends a clear signal that the Danish government wants to strengthen the UN. I attach particular importance to the gathering of the UN organisations under one roof which makes them able to cooperate better and ensures synergy and impact. Through the new UN City, Denmark truly contributes to the objective of One UN”.

Denmark currently hosts seven UN organisations – United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) – and with the establishment of the UN City, it will be possible for more organisations to settle in Copenhagen. As an example, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) recently established an office in UN city, while UNEP will open a new technology centre, which will also be located in the UN city.

The construction of the UN City’s first part was handed to the users 1 January this year. After the completion of the technical installations, the organisations have now moved into the building. The construction of the second part of the UN City is still in process and will be handed over to the users by January 1 2014. As an integrated part of the UN City, the Danish Government has also provided a new high-tech warehouse to UNICEF, which was put into full operation at the turn of the year.

CPH City & Port Development (By og Havn in Danish) is the developer/owner of the UN City, which has been designed by architects 3 x Nielsen. When the total construction is completed, the house will be able to accommodate as much as 1700 UN work stations. The building contains meeting room facilities and a conference hall that can accommodate up to 450 people, and it has been built as an energy class 1 house with solar cells on the roof, use of seawater for cooling and rainwater for toilets. In 2012, the building received the EU Commission’s Green Building Award.

A press release about press participation in the opening will be issued separately.

For further information contact:
Senior Adviser at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Mette Thygesen, tel.: +45 33 92 09 09 or +45 50 87 66 28. Mail: metthy@um.dk

Original Press Release here