PPP for sustainable development urgent

The United Nations (UN) top official in Asia and the Pacific opined that achievement of the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will depend on scaling up public-private partnerships.

"The private sector knows the art of making markets work, managing risks, and fostering competitiveness and innovation," said UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP Dr Shamshad Akhtar at the twelfth Asia-Pacific Business Forum (APBF) held in the Thai capital Bangkok, according to a press release.

The executive secretary of Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) emphasised that Asian businesses have shown ability to create enduring value for themselves, whilst overcoming adversity in both trying economic times and with challenging external environments.

The forum organised by ESCAP with the theme "Driving Growth and Sustainability through Business" on November 1-2 brought together over 300 business leaders and government policymakers.

Representatives from civil society, international aid and development agencies also took part to identify the opportunities for enhancing connectivity between regional businesses in a more sustainable manner.