The United Nations in India announced on Saturday that Stefan Priesner has formally taken charge as the UN Resident Coordinator in India after presenting his credentials to the Government of India, according to an official statement. In his role, Priesner will head the UN Country Team in India, working to support national development priorities and advance progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals through a coordinated and integrated UN approach.

Appointed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Priesner presented his credentials to Sibi George, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, during a ceremony held in New Delhi on Friday. Following the event, Priesner expressed his appreciation for the opportunity, describing India as a vital partner of the United Nations and reaffirming the UN’s commitment to collaborating closely with the government and stakeholders to promote inclusive and sustainable development.

Priesner brings nearly 30 years of experience in international development, policy advisory roles, and managing complex, multi-sector programmes. Prior to this assignment, he served as UN Resident Coordinator in Iran from 2021 to 2025, and earlier in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Singapore between 2017 and 2021. He also held the positions of Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan from 2013 to 2017.

Priesner occupied senior roles within UNDP, including Country Director in Bangladesh, Deputy Resident Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Deputy Chief of the Sub-regional Resource Facility for South and West Asia in Nepal. He began his UN career in 1997 with UNDP in Bhutan, after working in the private sector. An Austrian national, Priesner holds a master’s degree in international relations from Johns Hopkins University in the United States and a master’s degree in law from the University of Vienna.