ASTANA – The UN Resident Coordinator Office in Kazakhstan hosted the meeting to discuss the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Kazakhstan’s activities in reaching them with the business community in Astana on Nov. 28, reported the press service of the office.
It is reported that the insufficient role of business in achieving the SDGs is one of the reasons why the gap emerged between today’s situation and what humanity planned to achieve by 2030. According to the SDG Index, Kazakhstan ranks 66th out of 166 countries in achieving the SDGs.
The UN launched the UN Global Compact as a special initiative to unite businesses and accelerate the global collective impact. Today 52 companies from Kazakhstan are members of the UN Global Compact. They implement new strategies in their operations and conduct their activities following the ten universal principles outlined in the document.
“Our collaboration with the UN Global Compact in Kazakhstan has been exceptional, and today’s gathering is another testament to that. We are fortunate to have a diverse array of individuals and organizations who grasp that sustainable development is not merely a moral obligation but a strategic advantage. Sustainable business practices are no longer a choice, they are a necessity, a path towards resilience, competitiveness, and long-term success,” said UN Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan Michaela Friberg-Storey.
Vice Minister of National Economy Abzal Abdikarimov spoke about the government’s activities to promote SDGs at the regional and national level, and the implementation of national SDGs indicators.
The participants from the government agencies, civil society, the private sector, and youth also discussed the global impact of the SDGs and how achieving these goals can lead to a more sustainable world.