FM Nirmala Sitharaman Urges PVT Sector to Back SDGs

NEW DELHI: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has stressed the need for private sector to come forward and support the sustainable development goals or SDGs, saying that it is the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to participate and contribute in this endeavour. Besides, she also exuded confidence that multilateral development banks (MDB) reform process emanating from the G20 deliberations will prompt MDBs to maximise investments into developing nations.

Her statement came when she was speaking at an event organised on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank annual meetings at Marrakesh in Morocco. "The 17 SDGs adopted by United Nations member states in 2015 were aimed at addressing a wide range of social, economic, and environmental challenges by 2030," she said on late Saturday.

It may be noted that the 17 SDGs adopted by United Nations member states in 2015 were aimed at addressing a wide range of social, economic, and environmental challenges by 2030. "India under its Presidency has called upon all G20 members to collectively resolve to fully and effectively implement the 2030 Agenda and accelerate progress toward the SDGs, in a timely manner," Sitharaman said.

The global progress on SDGs is off-track with only close to 12 per cent of the targets on track, she said, adding India under its Presidency has called upon all G20 members to collectively resolve to fully and effectively implement the 2030 Agenda and accelerate progress toward the SDGs, in a timely manner.

As the SDGs provide a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, the finance minister also said, "It is the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to participate in and contribute to this endeavour. I invite the private sector to come forward and join the pursuit of this global vision."