UN Global Compact Network India hosts 13
th National Convention on Sustainable Development Goals.
- Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Hon’ble Union Minister, GoI was the Chief Guest and Amitabh Kant CEO, NITI Aayog was the Keynote speaker.
- Focus area was Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A Blueprint for Action.
Global Compact Network India (GCNI), a
local Network of the United Nations Global Compact, New York held the 13
th National Convention – its annual flagship event – in Bengaluru on the theme of ‘Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A Blueprint for Action’. The Convention was significant since it coincides with the UN India Business Forum that was hosted jointly at the time. Accenture supported the event as the Knowledge Partner of GCNI.
D K Hota, CMD, BEML was leading the convention as the Chairman, while Shashi Shanker, CMD, ONGC was the President. Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Hon’ble Union Minister, Ministry of Science & Technology (India), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Ministry of Earth Sciences, GoI was the Chief Guest and Amitabh Kant CEO, NITI Aayog was the Keynote speaker. Besides, a host of eminent speakers comprising of CEO, CXOs and Heads from Corporates, PSUs, Academia, Civil Society organizations and UN Agencies globally attended the convention.
The unique feature of this Convention was the launch of GCNI–Accenture CEO Study, Exclusive CEO Panel, Concurrent Sessions on SDGs, and a speci
al session on Innovative Practices Awards 2018 on SDGs. Said D K Hota, CMD, BEML, “The implementation path to achieving SDGs would not only help India grow but also help us grow and sustain our society without taking away what we owe to our future generations. As we inch towards creating the New India, we need to understand what needs to be done and act now.”
Kamal Singh, ED, GCNI said, “GCNI Convention 2018 theme puts emphasis on the real, on-ground actions that the businesses need to take to make a real impact on achieving the SDGs while also creating economic value for the Nation. It will include concepts such as organizational performance on SDGs, circular economy etc., which India needs to follow in the coming years.”
Over 400 delegates from Government, both Central and State, UN and its systems, Civil Society organizations, SMEs, Members of Academia, industry bodies’ representatives attended this year’s National Convention.