UN official urges region to support global initiative

Business
Source:
The National,Wednesday June 29th, 2016

AN official of the United Nations has called on businesses in the Asia-Pacific region to build on an initiative by global businesses to support the sustainable development goals.
“For the first time, the world’s biggest communications businesses have agreed to put their differences aside to advance the sustainable development goals,” Roy Trivedy, the UN Resident Coordinator and UN Development Programme resident representative in Papua New Guinea, said.
“We see this as an opportunity to invite businesses in our region to also come together for collaborative actions in support of the Agenda 2030.”
The UN launched the Common Ground initiative which involves six of the world’s largest communication agencies working together to attain certain objectives.
The six companies are Dentsu, Havas, IPG, Omnicom, Publicis Groupe and WPP.
The initiative has two main objectives – to come together and address the sustainable development goals and to encourage other industries to follow suit and find their own common ground.
The business leaders in a joint statement said: “By working in partnership to support the sustainable development goals, we want to demonstrate that even fierce competitors can set aside their differences to serve a wider common interest. We hope others in and beyond our businesses decide to do the same.”
Trivedy said there were great opportunities for partnerships and innovation for business communities in PNG and the region.