‘10 in 10’ Business Ambition goals launched
The Aboitiz Group and the private sector have heeded the call of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) to mobilize support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) worldwide amid the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic by helping achieve 10 key industry goals in 10 years.
The UNGC is considered the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, a commitment of the private sector to do good business through Ten Principles and to align their corporate strategy to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“While COVID-19 has created an immense negative impact on societies and economies around the world, it also afforded countries like the Philippines an opportunity to accelerate progress toward collaborative solutions to the development issues the virus has created or exacerbated,” DJ Sta. Ana, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. Chief Corporate External Affairs Officer, shared with participants at the UNGC Annual Sustainability Summit, a high-level sustainability meeting between business leaders and government ministers.
Held last November 5, the summit (with the theme “Uniting Business for MSME Recovery and Resilience”) culminated in the “10-Year, 10-Point Business Ambition for SDGs in the Philippines (10 in 10),” a joint commitment to take action toward supporting MSMEs.
The Aboitiz Group was part of the “Prosperity” expert group meeting presentation, where MSME financing and government stimulus, supply/value chain, business continuity management, diversification and market access, and digital transformation were discussed.
“In support of the country’s move toward digital transformation, we stand ready to collaborate with partners in strengthening industrial policies; infrastructure development and establishment of an innovation ecosystem; development of a skills and re-tooling strategy for human resources; supporting curriculum development; facilitating MSME access to finance and technologies; and creating awareness,” Sta. Ana added.
The 10-in-10 Business Ambitions encompass five priority areas: “Chains” (supply and value chains), “Community” (the important role of human capital and skills development), “Competitiveness” (adopting innovative approaches), “Clean” (decoupling environmental degradation from economic growth), and “Collaboration” (no one should be left behind in progress).
“While the world has made great strides in achieving some of the 17 SDGs, progress on others has however stalled or even reversed. With the SDGs and the 10 principles of the UNGC as our guide, I believe it is possible to recover better together and build more resilient small enterprises. I look forward to not just continuing, but accelerating these efforts with our networks and participating businesses in the Philippines,” said Sandra Ojiambo, UNGC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Executive Director.
Last September, Aboitiz Group President and CEO Sabin M. Aboitiz joined over 1,000 CEOs from more than 100 countries in signing the UNGCStatement for Renewed Global Cooperation, urging further collaboration with the public and private sectors in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Further, the Aboitiz Group earlier reaffirmed its commitment to operate its businesses with a sustainability mindset that upholds best practices in environmental management, social responsibility, and good governance while ensuring long-term financial growth and business capability.
With the group’s involvement in critical sectors such as energy, banking, food, real estate, infrastructure, and construction, Aboitiz’s commitment to sustainability is at the core of its business operations.