Declaration adopted at the High-Level Conference on the Role of Private Sector in Sustainable Development in Nepal

We, the representatives of the business sector in Nepal, building on the discussions held during the High-Level Conference on the Role of Private Sector in Sustainable Development in Nepal held on 21 November 2017:

 

Supporting the commitment of Nepal to the Agenda 2030 and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by all Member states of the United Nations on September 25, 2015 as an ambitious yet achievable framework to create a fairer, more prosperous, and sustainable future for all,

 

Recognizing the commitments made by Nepal to various international Treaties and Conventions it has signed and ratified, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the United Nations Convention against Corruption, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

 

Understanding that the achievement of sustainable development and the SDGs will require stronger inclusive economic growth and the creation of decent employment for the economy of Nepal,

                                 

Acknowledging the leading role of the business sector in creating jobs and economic activity that translates into sustained growth as well as working conditions that align with Nepal's obligations

 

Highlighting the importance of innovation, of responsible and sustainable business practices, and of establishing a culture of integrity in the economy to foster sustainable development and the achievement of the SDGs,

 

Calling on the government to create a conducive investment environment and to improve the ease of doing business, to invest in infrastructure to foster economic development, and to include business sector representatives in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes that affect them, including through public-private partnerships,

 

Inviting development partners to increase their resources to support inclusive private sector development in Nepal and ensure development effectiveness by working collaboratively and in an aligned and coordinated manner,

 

Urge all stakeholders to come together and join forces to implement Agenda 2030 as a plan of action for people, the planet, and prosperity and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in Nepal by 2030. [Source: UNDP Nepal] 

 

 

Specifically, we:

i.               encourage private sector entities to adopt the Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals as part of their business plans;

 

ii.              collaborate to undertake joint initiatives to foster the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals;

 

iii.            mobilize other relevant stakeholders and advocate for their contribution to achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals; and

 

iv.            jointly work on policy reforms to improve Nepal's business environment.

 

 

To Support this ambitious agenda and the implementation of this Declaration, we form the Nepal Business Coalition for the SDGs and invite all businesses to join our efforts for a more resilient economy and the achievement of sustainable development in Nepal

Nepali business community commits to contribute to Nepal¹s sustainable development

 PRESS RELEASE

NOVEMBER 21, KATHMANDU

 

Nepal's business community has expressed its firm commitment to contribute to the country's sustainable development, helping it achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

 

Following a day-long seminar on "The role of the private sector in sustainable development in Nepal" on Tuesday, representatives of Nepal's top business associations and organizations announced the creation of a "Nepal Business Coalition for SDGs," which calls on all businesses to align with Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by the UN Member states, including Nepal in September 2015. The conference was organized by UNDP, KOICA, Embassy of Republic of Korea to Nepal, Korean Alumni Association in Nepal, and UN Global Compact Nepal.

 

In what was a clear milestone in engaging the private sector, the conference concluded with six major Nepali business organizations signing Memoranda of Understanding with UNDP Nepal to collaborate on the SDGs. The organizations signing the MoUs include: Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Federation of Women Entrepreneurs' Associations of Nepal, Hotel Association Nepal, National Business Initiative and the Nepal Bankers' Association.

The coalition, fully backed up by these organizations, encourages private sector entities to adopt the Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals as part of their business plans; collaborate to undertake joint initiatives to foster the achievement of the Goals; mobilize other relevant stakeholders and advocate for their contribution to achievement of the Goals; and jointly work on policy reforms to improve Nepal's business environment.

The Business Coalition for the SDGs is a voluntary group of likeminded enterprises, which understand the need to align their business operations with the SDGs and work with other actors in Nepal to achieve sustainable development. Businesses joining the coalition sign a declaration involving a formal commitment to the SDGs and highlighting the need for partnership to realize the ambitious
Goals.

 

Addressing the meeting, Vice Chair of the National Planning Commission Swarnim Wagle underlined how the achievement of the SDGs is not only a Government responsibility but a national priority, requiring partnerships for success, while also acknowledging that "a good place to start implementing the SDGs in Nepal is by aligning and adjusting existing sectoral strategies with the Global Goals."

 

UN Resident Representative Valerie Juliand said "We should not work to make money, but make money so we can do good work." and called for business with ethics as key to achieve the Goals.

 

Yam Kumari Khatiwada, Secretary at the Ministry of Industry said the private sector have a major role to play in Nepal's sustainable development as they have the huge potential to bring in innovation and resources. "The Ministry of Industry is committed to promote conducive environment for innovative business solutions in Nepal," she said.

 

"The government can't deliver on ambitious sustainable development promises on its own—partnerships with the private sector is the only way to bring the will into action," said Suraj Vaidya, President of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

 

We have to see the possibility of channeling all scattered efforts in order to make a powerful impact in Nepal for which responsive partnerships between government, private sector and donors are required," said Hyungkoo Kim, Country Director of KOICA Nepal Office.

 

Through the conference, the business community, the government and the international development partners gave a clear message that the private sector's profitability, their business practices and achievement of the SDGs are mutually reinforcing.

 

"The Nepal business community by engaging and committing itself to contributing to the SDGs is not only doing goo but will also do well" said Renaud Meyer, UNDP Country Director, highlighting a recent study estimating that the achievement of the SDGs would bring more than USD 12 trillion of business opportunities to the private sector. He also emphasized that —if the cost of achieving the Global Goals is high, it will likely cost even more to both countries and businesses to not achieve the SDGs. [From UNDP Nepal]