Economy

Private sectors urged to join force for the MDGs

By Zhang Yuwei (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-09-23 11:11

United Nations - As world leaders gathered at the United Nations discussing how to boost progress to achieve the eight international development goals by 2015, representatives from private sector also try to put their heads together to see how they can best contribute to achieving the historic promise.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a group of 300 business executives at the sideline of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Summit that investing in the MDGs is "an investment in growth, prosperity and the markets of the future."

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The set of eight MDGs was agreed upon by 189 heads of state at the UN Millennium Summit in 2000. The targets of the Goals include halving poverty, expanding primary education, enhancing gender equality, improving the health of women and children, combating HIV/AIDS and fostering greater environmental sustainability.

With only five years left before the deadline, Ban urged private sector to support the UN mission in achieving these development goals.

"Government leadership will be crucial. But more than ever before, we depend on the resources and capacities of the private sector to make things happen," he said, adding that business is a primary driver of innovation, investment and job creation.

Despite the global financial crisis and the subsequent global recession that have created new realities to many companies worldwide, there is no doubt that business plays an integral role in delivering economic and social progress.

Wang Jianzhou, chairman of China Mobile Ltd told China Daily: "To help achieve these development goals is not only the responsibility for governments, but also for private sector."

"Business leaders should know that it is the corporate social responsibility (CSR) to join force in this process of the MDGs," he said.

China Mobile is one of the 6200 companies from over 130 countries that participate in UN Global Compact - a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.

Speaking for his industry and also as an information communication technologies (ICT) expert, Wang suggested that ICT has a huge potential to help achieve Goal 2 (achieving universal education).

"Expanding the mobile phone and Internet coverage can contribute a lot to education in rural areas in both China and other developing and African countries," Wang suggested, adding that E-learning or distance learning can be specific projects to be developed.

Wang thinks technology is not a problem now but "we need to figure out how to translate it into reality."

And he thinks government should support more in terms of policy and coordination.

"If information system needs to be built up in rural or remote areas, say, either in China or any other countries like Africa (which will benefit a lot from ICT), local government should help make sure that ICT experts can reach these neighborhoods," he said, adding that it is really difficult to reach some of the remote areas in many countries.

Some experts, however, raised the issue of the cost of the hardware, such as mobile phones and computers, even if the Internet or mobile phone coverage is set up.

Wang said that companies should look more into making low-cost products, adding that China Mobile has been producing a mobile phone which only costs $20 (around 134 yuan) and has set up branch in Pakistan for this project. The product has been sold in Chinese?regions such as Sichuan, Guizhou and is currently expanding all over the country.

"Low-cost is the way to go especially for rural areas," Wang said, urging?companies?to put some thought into such innovations.

The UN Global Compact was formed 10 years ago and there are about 200 Chinese companies currently participating in this initiative. The number of Chinese companies, mostly stated-own and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs),?is increasing particularly in the past few years, according to Matthias Stausberg, head of public affairs of the office.

"Many Chinese companies branch into the global market, so that's why the Global Compact resonates it well," said Stausberg, adding that all participating businesses voluntarily join the initiative to be engaged with major UN issues and projects.

Private sector can contribute much to achieving the MDGs. It doesn't have to be a philanthropic contribution?- like writing a big check - it can be a contribution that linked to the core business of a corporation, said Stausberg.

There is business potential in corporate responsibility, which according to Stausberg, should be thought as a business opportunity.

Wang said many Chinese companies start to be more aware of climate change and environmental issues and development issues these days. "Many Chinese companies are going global now."

"A lot of our participants are leaders and learners at the same time,"?Wang said. "You have those who are very advanced and have resources and already undertaking a lot of efforts, both to change from within and also to make a contribution to development, others are only beginning their journey."