Businesses of Kazakhstan and the United Nations discuss the role of business sector in promoting Sustainable Development Goals

ALMATY.- Representatives of the United Nations and the business sector of Kazakhstan met to discuss how businesses can become more sustainable by embedding the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in their practices, processes and strategies.

The goal was to meet with the prominent business representatives who have expressed interest in advancing the Agenda 2030. Among others, participants from the business sector included “Baiterek” National Managing Holding, Astana Group, Raimbek Group, BI Group, Chocolife.me, “Astana Banki” JSC,  BSH Home Appliances, and Rixos Almaty Hotel.

“Achieving the SDGs could generate at least USD 12 trillion of market opportunities and create 380 million new jobs by 2030 in the four economic systems: food and agriculture, cities, energy and materials, health, and well-being,” said UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Norimasa Shimomura.

It was very rewarding to find out that many businesses in Kazakhstan are already following the sustainability path by introducing innovative practices and technologies. For example Rixos Hotel in Almaty has recently signed an agreement with a recycling company to which it annually supplies over 300,000 plastic bottles for free and in return the company plants 400 trees annually in the city of Almaty. Some businesses noticed that they had already been supporting SDGs without even knowing about it.

It is clear that the SDGs cannot be achieved without all actors - government, the United Nations, civil society, and the business sector - working in-step together. Every business, big or small, shares this responsibility and UN helps consolidate those efforts to realize the better future that the next generation deserves.