• Prominent panellists discuss joint capabilities of public, private sectors in creating sustainable change, generating opportunities 
• Dr Muhammad Yunus: Youth should be job creators, not job seekers
• Jeffrey Sachs: UAE has excelled at placing people at heart of public policy, global governments must develop effective public sector leadership
• Badr Jafar: Private sector, entrepreneurs can be change-makers through understanding sustainability, corporate governance business case

Sharjah-UAE: 23 March, 2017:  His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, today attended the second session of the opening day of the sixth International Government Communication Forum (IGCF 2017), being held from March 22 to 23 at Expo Centre Sharjah. Eminent speakers taking part in the discussion emphasised that the private and public sectors as well as the youth have a collective responsibility to advance sustainable development.

Titled ‘The Public and Private Sectors: Real Partnership towards Sustainable Development,’ the session hosted Jeffrey Sachs, renowned development economist and Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, Dr Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank and Nobel Peace Prize winner, and Badr Jafar, CEO of Crescent Enterprises and President of Crescent Petroleum. 

The moderator of the session, John Defterios, Presenter and Editor of CNNMoney Emerging Markets, commenced by asking the panellists how communication enables public-private partnerships (PPPs) and the achievement of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), unveiled by the United Nations (UN) in 2016. 

Opening the discussion, Jeffrey Sachs said: “All 193 countries of the UN have adopted the principles enshrined in the SDGs for two reasons. First, the world needs to change direction to be more economically and environmentally conscious as well as equitable. We can no longer go on as we have. Second, the SDGs are not ideas or suggestions but targets for 2030 that must be fulfilled so that mankind can survive and thrive. The SDGs are a powerful communication tool to align countries on key objectives for the near future. Strong and relentless public and private sector action can collectively provide the roadmap towards achieving these objectives.” 

In a nod to the UAE government’s positive engagement with its communities and commitment to economic change, Sachs added: “The UAE serves as a great example of putting people at the centre of public policy. This is evident in the fact that the government has launched the World Happiness Council in addition to announcing 2017 as the Year of Giving. I am grateful for the way this government has placed the SDGs high on its agenda and at the centre of our discussion today.” 

Speaking on the private sector’s potential in advancing the SDGs, Badr Jafar said: “The region’s governments are buckling under pressure to solve even basic challenges. At such a time, they cannot take on all the responsibility to provide the opportunities required to address the rampant unemployment. The private sector has the power and resources to be a change-maker. However, for this to happen, the sector needs to understand the business case behind sustainability, corporate governance and accountability. 

He added: “Another tremendous opportunity in this region is the number of family businesses, which account for 85 per cent of the non-oil GDP. Their impact-generated approach and understanding of optimal business practices for long-term economic and organisational health can be applied to progressing the SDGs. Finally, we have an underutilised civil society and a huge amount of philanthropic capital in the form of zakat and sadaqa that, if properly deployed, would go a long way in advancing some of the SDGs. In this part of the world, funding does not have to be an issue, as the spirit of giving is embedded in our DNA.” 

Remarking on the huge gap between SDG objectives and existing polices, Muhammad Yunus said: “While we think about the world we have inherited – plagued by tremendous wealth concentration, environmental problems and a dearth of jobs – we must take a peek into our history. We have always been problem-solvers. In fact, I have observed even illiterate women at Grameen Bank flourish into entrepreneurs with determination and hard work. There is no reason that educated youth today – in Bangladesh and all over the world – should be job seekers when they could be job creators. Our mindsets need a drastic shift to reorient ourselves in line with the changing world.”

He added: “I am impressed by the UAE leadership’s forward-looking vision for this country and its youth. As this region enables entrepreneurs with investments and resources, they should leverage this model to create opportunities for themselves.”

Adding to the discussion, Jafar said: “Although government support can help unlock barriers and level the playing field to ensure nobody faces a competitive disadvantage, an overly supportive government could be detrimental to an entrepreneur’s learning curve. Risks are part of the deal on the road to leadership, and if they are all eliminated, the business would not be sustainable.” 

Jafar applauded the efforts of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq),and the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa), in creating an attractive and supportive environment for aspiring entrepreneurs who aim to launch sustainable and competitive ventures. He said: “Their business models can accelerate environmental and social development – and over the long term, help make the SDGs a reality.” 

Speaking on the imminent environmental dangers and their impact on jobs, Sachs said: “Adapting our economy and habits to the environment is a necessity. We must make a change from a fossil fuel world to a low-carbon world to keep the planet hospitable and safe. Governments have an imperative to implement the right welfare measures and train public-sector entrepreneurs to champion such change. We need to proactively address gaps in global public administration so that SDGs are not just a concept on paper, but a reality.” 

Adding to Sachs’ point, Jafar said: “As we live in a world of changing technology and are on the brink of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, public and private sectors also have an economic imperative to collaborate. In a relationship-based society such as ours, the government can act as an inspiring role model – His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi is one such example that we can all look up to.”

Themed ‘Societal Participation…Comprehensive Development’, IGCF 2017 examines how the world’s nations can leverage effective government communication to achieve the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs), which have become the top priority of government programmes, international institutions, media organisations and civil society. 

Offering a transparent platform to examine current issues and formulate recommendations to help governments optimise the impact of their communication, IGCF 2017 convenes more than 2,500 local and international personalities from the ranks of government officials, experts, thought leaders, and government communication professionals.