ROME, Oct. 22 A new United Nations agency aimed at protecting the environment while helping expedite economic development for developing countries will be set up in the northern Italian city of Trieste, the Italian news agency ANSA reported on Saturday.

According to the report, the Institute on a Partnership for Environmental Development agency (IPED) will help set environmental targets for the UN's priority development projects.

A team of international experts will gather in Trieste to provide necessary knowledge and measures to the technicians and managers from developing countries on how to effectively combine the economic development with environmental protection, which is the major concern for development experts.

Italian Environment Minister Altero Matteoli said: "We've kicked off the creation of this important institute which will help build an environmental professional elite group all over the world. "

"IPED will provide targeted training to meet the specific demands of developing countries," he said.

IPED is part of the UN's wider program of "building capacities" in the developing world rather than merely providing aid and expertise to the less developed countries.

Besides IPED, Italy also hosts three UN agencies, all located in Rome: the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Food Program (WFP).