UN GLOBAL COMPACT CONVENES MAJOR SOUTH ASIAN MEETING

 

TO ADVANCE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS, COMBAT POVERTY

NEW YORK, 8 March (Global Compact Office) -- Moving to advance responsible business practices in order to help combat poverty in the developing world, the United Nations Global Compact today convenes its first major regional meeting in South Asia.

The two-day “Global Compact Regional Conclave in South Asia”, taking place in Jamshedpur, India, brings together more than 200 senior representatives of companies, civil society and the United Nations from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand to facilitate regional collaboration, share knowledge and present case studies of corporate-led partnerships and initiatives.  It is jointly hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry, Tata Steel and the Global Compact Society India.

“This meeting is unique as it is the first time that business leaders in the Asian region, under the auspices of the Global Compact, are collectively addressing their contribution to global development objectives”, said Georg Kell, Executive Head of the Global Compact Office.  “Indeed, business has a high stake in promoting development since reducing poverty helps create stable and inclusive markets.”

The event is intended to facilitate cooperation among Global Compact participants in the South Asia region through the development and sharing of skills and practices that can be used to implement the Global Compact’s 10 principles, while contributing to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.  The outputs of the conclave will be shared at the summit to review progress against the Millennium Development Goals, to be held at United Nations Headquarters on 14-16 September 2005.

The conclave’s agenda includes sessions on corporate social responsibility as a business strategy; governance and ethics; and fostering entrepreneurial development.

Launched by Secretary-General Kofi Annan in July 2000, the Global Compact today includes nearly 2,000 companies working with labour, civil society and governments to advance 10 principles in the areas of human rights, workplace standards, environment and anti-corruption.  (See http://www.unglobalcompact.org)

For more information, please contact Matthias Stausberg in the Global Compact Office (stausberg@un.org; +1-917-367-3423).

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