Central Asia is uniting to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Almaty has officially become the center for promoting the UN Sustainable Development Goals in the region: the UN Global Compact regional network office covering five Central Asian countries has opened in the city. The new structure will become a platform for bringing together businesses, government agencies and international organizations to promote sustainable development in the region.

Before the official launch, there was held the working discussion on sustainable business, bringing together representatives of the state, entrepreneurship and international organizations. Stephen O'Malley, Acting Permanent Coordinator of UN in Kazakhstan, who opened the meeting, noted that the private sector remains a key partner in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through responsible business conduct, reducing the carbon footprint and supporting local communities.

"Business plays a crucial role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through innovation, investment and economic growth," said Mr. O'Malley. "When companies align their activities with Sustainable Development Goals, they create long-term value and shape a sustainable and equitable future."

Dinara Seitzhaparova, Executive Director of UN Global Compact Central Asia, believes that the participation of not only business, but also the academic community is important for creating the more sustainable development of society:

"The private sector is a key driving force behind the Sustainable Development Goals agenda," said Dinara Seitzhaparova. – In Almaty, the financial sector, industry and, of course, education are actively involved in the given work. This includes Satbayev University, which promotes Global Compact principles and is ready to share its scientific expertise to solve the pressing issues."

UN Global Compact’s initiative was implemented with the support of Almaty Akimat and the office of UN Permanent Coordinator in the Republic of Kazakhstan and was the result of many years of work and active participation of Central Asian companies in promoting the principles of sustainable and responsible business. To date, more than 130 companies from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan have joined the initiative.

Ole Lund Hansen, Head of Global Operations at UN Global Compact, took part in the launch ceremony of the multi-country network of UN Global Compact. The initiative opens up new opportunities for attracting the investments, international cooperation and promoting sustainable development standards in the region. Over the past three years, the number of participants has increased more than fivefold, reflecting the growing maturity of businesses in the region and their commitment to global sustainability standards.