Global Compact Network India (GCNI), a local arm of the United Nations Global Compact, New York along with UN India organized 13th edition of its annual flagship event in Bengaluru on the 8th of June, 2018. The overlying theme for the event focused on ‘Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A Blueprint for Action’. It was attended by over 400 business leaders including CEOs, CXOs, Academia, Civil Society Organizations and UN entities from across the world. This event came after another significant event, the UN India Business Forum which was jointly hosted by the GCNI and the UN.

While addressing the Convention, Mr. Shashi Shanker said that the unique feature of the Convention was the launch of GCNI – Accenture CEOs Study on sustainability, exclusive CEO Panel, Concurrent Sessions on SDGs (Quality Education, Integrating Human Rights into Sustainable Business Strategy, Affordable Urban Housing: Challenges & Perspectives, SDG Philanthropy Platform) and special session on Innovative Practices Awards on SDGs. Some of the speakers who were Yuri Afanasiev, UN Resident Coordinator India and UNDP Resident Representative, Shashi Shanker, President, GCNI & CMD, ONGC, Sue Allchurch ,Chief ,Outreach and Engagement, UNGC, New York, Vishvesh Prabhakar , MD, Sustainability, Accenture Strategy India, Dr. H Chaturvedi, Director, BIMTECH , Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee, Secretary General, Indian Steel Association, Brig. Rajiv Williams, Corporate Head- CSR, Jindal Stainless Ltd., Vaishali Sinha, Director, ReNew Power, Kapil Mohan, IAS, Principal Secretary, Karnatka , Dr. Raman Ramachandran , CMD, BASF, India, Shekhar Vishwanathan,VC, Toyata Kirloskar, Rajesh Bhasin, CEO, Chemical Division, Uflex, Dr. B.Metri, Director, IIMT, Mohini Daljeet Singh, CEO, Max Foundation, Ravichandran Natrajan, Head, Tata Trusts, Alay Barah , ED, ICCO, Ruchira Gujral, UNICEF, Dr. Shalini Sarin, Global Head-CSR, & Chair, Philips Lighting Foundation , N. Balachandra, Natrajan, Group Head, Human Resources, Café Coffee Day and Dr. Uddesh Kohli , Member, GC, GCNI.  

CEOs Agenda : Incorporating Sustainability into an organization’s DNA 

The CEOs session laid emphasis on the real on-ground actions that the businesses need to adopt an impact on achieving the SDGs and to create economic value for the nation. “Blueprint for action” entails concepts such as organizational performance for SDGs, circular economy etc. which India needs to follow in the coming years to ensure that we are on path to reach our goals.

SDGs Best Case Study Awards

To recognize the innovation and excellence in aligning SDGs into Business Agenda, GCNI organized its 2nd Innovative Practices Award Competition. A record number of 65 organizations participated. Out of these case studies in areas such as Food Security, Poverty Alleviation, Clean Energy, Health, Education, Gender Equality, and Creation of Sustainable Cities, the winners of the awards were -: Corporate Private Sector -TATA Steel, Public Sector-ONGC, NGO-India Society of Agribusiness Professionals, Business School-SP Jain Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai.

The Convention highlighted the importance of Circular Economy and had a session on “Beyond Cost Optimization: Circular Economy –A Transformative approach to resource efficiency”.

Integrating Human Rights into Sustainable Business Strategy

 The session highlighted the importance of Human Rights and the need to integrate it with business agenda. Brig. Rajiv Williams, Corporate Head-CSR, Jindal Stainless Ltd. (in centre) and other panelists. In addition, the Convention deliberated following Con-current Sessions on SDGs

• Quality Education (SDG 4)
• Affordable Urban Housing: Challenges & Perspectives
• Role of Philanthropy in Attaining the SDGs in India: Impact Investment, Catalytic Philanthropy and Innovation The Convention was attended by over 400 delegates from across India and abroad that included CEOs, CXOs from Corporate Sector, Government, UN and bilateral agencies, Civil Society Organisations and Academia.

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