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¡®Unlock full power of business¡¯ to achieve Global Goals, UN deputy chief tells forum

Businesses can contribute in important ways to the realization of a world free of poverty and hunger by 2030, including through job creation, technological innovation and the provision of finance resources, the Âé¶¹APP Deputy Secretary-General said on Tuesday.

¡°°Õ³ó±ð??(SDGs) have?captured the imagination?of leaders and general public alike,¡± said Amina Mohammed at the SDG Business Forum, one of the hundreds of events being held during the 9-18 July gathering devoted to development issues, known as the High-level Political Forum, organized by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

¡°The private sector brings both agility in delivery and new approaches to SDG implementation¡±, she added.

The??and its 17 Goals were adopted by world leaders in September 2015 as a blueprint for creating a healthy, equitable and peaceful world.

¡°The 2030 Agenda cannot be achieved by Governments alone¡±, Ms. Mohammed said. ¡°To address the needs of the most vulnerable in communities around the world, we need a bolder approach to partnership, a dynamically engaged business community, and new forms of sustainability financing.¡±

Businesses contribute to the 2030 Agenda in important ways: as engines of employment; through technological innovation; as sources of finance; and with market-based solutions that bring opportunities for women, young people and vulnerable groups, she said.

¡°However, much remains to be done to unlock the full power of business as a force for good¡±, she said, explaining that initiatives by many companies and sectors do not yet amount to the systemic change that is needed to transform economies and societies ¨C including the empowerment of women.

The Âé¶¹APP has a critical role to play in bringing all stakeholders together, providing a global platform for reviewing SDG implementation, for the passing on of skills and know-how, and for catalyzing partnerships.

One key challenge is the large financing gap, in terms of both public and private resources and investments, she stressed, drawing attention to a High-level Meeting on Financing the 2030 Agenda that the Secretary-General will host in September at UN Headquarters.

Also speaking at the Forum, UN Under-Secretary-General and Head of UN DESA, Liu Zhenmin, said that “setting up business models that decrease inequalities, minimize vulnerabilities and embrace diversity is not only a moral obligation, but a smart business strategy.”

“Ultimately, investing in the SDGs and engaging in their implementation will support growth and job creation, everywhere,” he added.

Source: UN News

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