UN Global Business Forum Tackles Sustainable Development Goals with Focus on Innovation
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the United Nations Global Business Forum on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) concluded on July 14, 2026. The forum, themed “Business and the Real Economy: Achieving Sustainable Development Amidst Global Transformations,” brought together economic leaders, government representatives, and international organizations to discuss the private sector’s role in accelerating progress toward the SDGs.
The primary focus of discussions was SDG 9, concerning industry, innovation, and infrastructure, as well as the implementation of Article 55(c) of the “Pact for the Future.” This document, adopted at a UN summit in 2024, emphasizes strengthening cooperation with the private sector and increasing corporate responsibility in the pursuit of sustainable development.
The forum featured two specialized sessions. The first addressed trends impacting industrial policies, including digitalization, artificial intelligence development, the green transition, and the transformation of global supply chains. The second session examined experiences from various countries in government-private sector collaboration, including the preparation of national voluntary reports on SDG progress.
Sanda Ojiambo, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, highlighted the importance of timely investments in sustainable development, stating that such investments not only reduce long-term economic costs but also drive global economic growth and transform the energy sector. She noted that 90% of new renewable energy projects are now more cost-effective than the cheapest fossil fuels, with investments in clean energy nearly doubling investments in fossil fuels.
Aizhan Shakhmayeva, Chairperson of the UN Global Compact Network for Central Asia, stressed the necessity of regional cooperation, asserting that partnership is no longer an option but the sole path to achieving sustainable development. She recognized the establishment of a UN SDG Regional Center in Almaty as a significant step toward enhancing collaboration among governments, the private sector, and international institutions.
Fadotto Haidara, Deputy Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), described the private sector as the main driver of global industrial transformations. She cited initiatives like the “Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence for Industry and Manufacturing” and the creation of centers of excellence in countries such as China and Belarus as examples of cooperation for technology development and bridging the digital divide.
Simelela Zubayru, CEO of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), emphasized the need for African economies to shift from raw material exports to value-added production. She stated that developing infrastructure, industry, and competitive markets paves the way for sustainable growth on the continent.
Representatives from the technology sector underscored the role of digital technologies in achieving SDGs. Valery Sherman, Technical Director at MEFERI, explained that the use of technologies such as barcodes, QR codes, automated data collection systems, and artificial intelligence increases efficiency, reduces errors, and improves resource management.
The outcomes of this forum are set to inform the agenda of future intergovernmental UN meetings in 2026, including the Private Sector Forum and the UN Water Conference.
The Global Business Forum on Sustainable Development Goals was held as a special program of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). This year’s HLPF, under the theme “Transformative, Equitable, Innovative, and Coordinated Actions for the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda,” will review the progress of 36 countries in achieving the SDGs.
