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Private sector partnerships and contributions to the SDGs
Wednesday, 7 July 2021
7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Virtual (NY Time)

Side Event

Business and Industry Major Group with International Organization of Employers (IOE) and USCIB (Business and Industry Co-chairs)

The UN and business are at a critical crossroads – the private sector is needed more than ever to help solve global issues, such as COVID-19 recovery and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Building forward better sustainably in the Decade of Action and Delivery will require a stronger than ever commitment to multi-stakeholder engagement and partnership.

The private sector has been at the forefront of tackling the pandemic – from the historic race to develop vaccines, to opening premises to production of PPE and vaccination campaigns, to training and educating employees on public health and safety. Business has shown that it can and should be a meaningful partner in building back better – contributing not just funding, but innovation, expertise, technology, fresh ideas, and diverse perspectives of business and employers, particularly SMEs, who are so crucial to economic growth at the local level.

The event will bring together leaders from companies, employer organisations, the multilateral system, and more, to explore the innovative ways that business can be a partner in recovering not only from the pandemic, but also the lost progress towards SDGs. It will feature two panels; one focused on COVID-19 recovery and the second on private sector innovation, including on addressing climate change and the digital divide.

United Nations