UN unveils SDG 9 and starts off global best practices for SL industries
After signing of the “Sustainable Development Framework” with the GoSL in August of this year, on October 02, 2017 the UN laid out Sri Lanka’s sustainable industry goals.
Addressing a public lecture conducted by UNIDO Regional Representative, Dr. Rene Van Berkel titled “Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialisation for Sri Lanka”, the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Una McCauley said that SDGs are the global goals for our own survival. Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen; Senior Advisor to the Minister, Himali Jinadasa; Head of UNIDO Focal point in Sri Lanka, Nawaz Rajabdeen and representatives from various Chambers and industries in Sri Lanka were also present at the event.
“SDGs are the global goals for our own survival. We have only one planet and Sri Lankans are extremely mindful of environment. SDG indicators are not just quantitative but qualitative as well. You can contribute to SDGs through everything you do. The 14 UN agencies resident in Sri Lanka are enlisted for this. The Sri Lankan SDG targets are driven by four drivers-firstly improved data and knowledge management, secondly strengthened public institutions towards lasting peace, thirdly socio economic resilience, and finally resilience to climate change and disasters,” McCauley said.
“We are introducing the international industry best practices to Sri Lanka with SDG 9 Framework. There is a five trillion dollar opportunity awaiting Asia in SDGs. UNIDO’s current portfolio in Sri Lanka has three projects valued at USD 10 million, strengthening the trade competitiveness of SMEs, bamboo processing and environment management on PCB waste. Cinnamon value-chain mapping, and Minimata initial assessment are among the completed projects here. We also pioneered world’s first chemical leasing with National Cleaner Production Centre in 2015 in Sri Lanka. The total economic potential could be two-to-three times than the five trillion dollar opportunity awaiting Asia in SDGs! Sustained industrialisation is possible subject to structural transformation. Labour cost competition, productivity increases and changing market demands (including quality of goods) can over time be countered by technological learning so that industrial development can break into higher value adding sectors and diversify to meet growing national demands Industrialisation is the engine of economic growth,”Dr. Berkel stated.
In July, 2015 the world’s first chemical leasing project for waste water treatment was set up in Sri Lanka in partnership with Watercare Technologies Ltd., UNIDO and the National Cleaner Production Centre (NCPC) of Sri Lanka.
“The industry sector share in our GDP is almost 30% and therefore is important for us. Even industry contribution to GDP in such developed countries as Japan, Spain and Austria are at same levels as Sri Lanka at 29-30%. The industry share of employment is around 18%. Last year the manufacturing value addition rate in Sri Lanka was 15.4%. We are aiming to become an upper middle income economy and the importance of industries such as export led industries is increasing. It is here sustainable industry development becomes crucial. SDG 9.2 Promotes inclusive and sustainable industrialisation. UNIDO has been supporting Sri Lankan industry development in many ways. Therefore we welcome UNIDO starting work on SDG 9 for us in their new strategic plan,” Bathiudeen said.
In September 2015 President Maithripala Sirisena attended the United Nations Summit where the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 (SDG 2030) was adopted. The leaders agreed to implement SDG 2030 at national level in their countries starting January 01, 2016. On August 03,2017, the GoSL and UN signed the 2018 – 2022 UN Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDF)- “the overarching framework for the work of the United Nations in Sri Lanka in line with the national priorities of the Maithri Palanayak, Sthaavara Ratak.”¹
As per the provisions of the UNSDF, the UN is expected to invest USD 300 million over a five year period for the development of Sri Lanka.
OSL TAKE:
With an estimated USD 5 trillion economic potential for Asia in SDGs this new initiative will provide many opportunities for enterprising investors.
Source : adaderana.lk/un-unveils-sdg-9-in-colombo-initiates-global-best-practices-for-lankan-industries/
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/10102017/Z_4 |