Georgia to Host the International Conference “Uniting Business Europe”
An international conference, UNITING BUSINESS EUROPE. Halfway to 2030: Stock-taking of SDG Progress, organized by the United Nations Global Compact and UN Global Compact Network Georgia, in partnership with European Local Networks, will be held.
The Uniting Business Europe is our opportunity to comprehensively review the private sector’s contribution to advancing the SDGs in Europe and explore business leadership during converging crises, the critical role of a principles-based approach, global trends, and tools and partnerships needed to achieve the 2030 Agenda fully.
With its regional focus, Uniting Business Europe will bring together high-level executives from the Government, local and global leaders from business, corporate sustainability experts, civil society organizations, and UN Global Compact Local Networks from 30 countries around Europe, North America, and Central Asia.
Participants will engage in discussions on crucial topics, including the progress of the private sector in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals, corporate sustainability regulations in the European Union, women's economic empowerment, sustainable financing, sustainable procurement practices, and other pressing issues.
'Uniting Business Europe' will feature distinguished keynote speakers, including Heidi Hautala, Vice-President of the European Parliament; Lesley Bearman Lahm, Country Director in Georgia, Asian Development Bank; H.E. Ms. Meline Arakelian, Ambassador, Embassy of the Netherlands in Georgia, Erik Illes, Head of Development Cooperation/Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden to Georgia, Ole Lund Hansen, Chief, Global Operations, United Nations Global Compact, Vittoria Ferragamo, Owner of IL Borro Toscana; Romeo Mikautadze, First Deputy Minister, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia; Mirza Gelashvili, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Finance of Georgia; Ekaterina Shavgulidze, Independent Non-Executive Director and Chair of Remco, Georgian State Electrosystem; David Mchedlidze, Head, Service for Accounting, Reporting and Auditing Supervision; Ekaterine Laliashvili, Board Chair, UN Global Compact Network Georgia; Valeri Chekheria, CEO of Rooms Hotels; Zurab Lalazashvili, Managing Partner, BDO; Michael Cowgill, Co-founder and President, Georgian American University; Vice President & Treasurer, American Chamber of Commerce;; Vakhtang Kacharava, CEO, Tegeta Holding; Nino Kvernadze, CEO, Adjara Group; Nino Masurashvili, Deputy CEO, Chief Risk Officer, TBC Bank; Nutsa Gogilashvili, Deputy CEO, Bank of Georgia; Imran Ahmadzada, Head of NEQSOL Holding Azerbaijan; Cem Tanır, Group Director of Corporate Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability, Hepsiburada (Turkiye); Archil Bakuradze, Chair of Supervisory Board, JSC MFO Crystal, among other eminent speakers. Their insights and expertise in respective fields will add great value to the event.
For more than 20 years, the United Nations Global Compact has built a global movement of sustainable companies and stakeholders. As we approach the mid-point of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a clear message has emerged: Governments and businesses are making progress, but not nearly at the pace and scale needed. The converging crises of climate change, a deadly global pandemic, worsening social and economic inequality, unchecked corruption, and the devastating consequences of the war in Ukraine have caused unprecedented disruption and global transformation.
The good news is that achieving the SDGs by 2030 is still possible, but it will take urgent, scalable multistakeholder action to accelerate progress dramatically. It will require we take a clear stand and demonstrate bold leadership to transform business models and economies to become more just and inclusive — leaving no one behind.
The Uniting Business Europe is our opportunity to comprehensively review the private sector’s contribution to advancing the SDGs in Europe and explore business leadership during converging crises, the critical role of a principles-based approach, global trends, and tools and partnerships needed to achieve the 2030 Agenda fully.