PwC, UNIDO and GMIS: Sustainable models can help global manufacturers unlock trillions in economic opportunities while being socially responsible
Mar 30, 2017
- PwC issues “Delivering the Sustainable Development Goals - seizing the opportunity in global manufacturing” jointly with UNIDO, ahead of the Global Manufacturing & Industrialisation Summit (GMIS)
- Structural shifts towards sustainability, innovation and technology will define the industrial landscape of the future
- Supporting SDGs has to become a legacy initiative for manufacturing CEOs / a long-term play of no less than 15 years
Dubai, UAE, 30th March 2017 - The arrival of the new industrial revolution - or Industry 4.0 - promises considerable opportunities for inclusive and sustainable development for both manufacturers and governments, according to a new report launched today: “Delivering the Sustainable Development Goals - seizing the opportunity in global manufacturing”. Greater sustainability can help manufacturing and industrial businesses unlock trillions in growth opportunities. At the same time, governments will turn to business to help them shape and implement policy measures that advance sustainable economic growth and inclusive prosperity.
The report, developed jointly by PwC, UNIDO and GMIS, explores the relevance for manufacturing businesses of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - also called the Global Goals - and examines how global manufacturing organisations can align their strategy with SDGs. The report states that SDGs offer tremendous economic opportunities for global manufacturing players and businesses at large, if captured and applied as part of long-term and inclusive growth strategies. A systematic, collaborative relationship between governments and manufacturers is therefore vital for the successful achievement of the global development agenda. The paper is timely and relevant to the upcoming Global Declaration on the future of manufacturing, industry and sustainable development.
It also aligns with the Business and Sustainable Development Commission’s flagship report “Better Business, Better World” issued in January 2017 at Davos, showing how pursuing the Global Goals could raise trillions in new market opportunities in ways that extend prosperity to all. It revealed that sustainable and inclusive business models could unlock economic opportunities worth at least US$12 trillion a year by 2030 and generate up to 380 million jobs, mostly in developing countries. But that the total economic prize from implementing the Global Goals could be anywhere between two and three times larger still, assuming that the benefits are captured across the whole economy and accompanied by much higher labour and resource productivity.
“The SDGs offer businesses - including manufacturers - a unique opportunity to set their course towards a genuinely sustainable long-term strategy, one in which they can align better with governments and regulators, use energy and other resources much more efficiently, lower their costs and improve their innovation in terms of both products and production methods.
The countdown has already begun in the race to achieve the SDGs, but global manufacturing should see it as a long-term play. CEOs therefore have much to consider and many moving parts to assimilate when it comes to the SDGs, but if they can meet these challenges, the rewards that await them are considerable indeed.”
The report, “Delivering the Sustainable Development Goals - seizing the opportunity in global manufacturing” was launched today by PwC and UNIDO at the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit in Abu Dhabi and can be accessed through the following link: http://www.pwc.com/m1/en/publications/delivering-sustainable-development-goals.html
“Building vibrant and systematic partnerships with industry is a vital prerequisite for the successful implementation of today’s transformative agenda toward accelerating poverty reduction and sustainable development. Government and business must work together to create clear policy frameworks and incentives to ensure that profits are translated into sustained economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection.
Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 9 will foster strong, sustainable and balanced growth and prosperity by creating jobs and mainstreaming cleaner industrial solutions. But leveraging industry’s potential to create lasting development results calls for new forms of partnership that put forward innovative business models that respond to commercial priorities while also delivering on the development front.”
The inaugural Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit is held at the Paris-Sorbonne Abu Dhabi, UAE, from March 27-30, 2017. A joint initiative by the UAE Ministry of Economy and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and co-hosted with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, the Summit will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The Summit is the world’s first global gathering for the manufacturing community, bringing together leaders in business, government and civil society to shape a vision for the sector’s future.
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About UNIDO
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. Building on its renewed mandate of Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (ISID), UNIDO aims to address the multidimensional causes of poverty and harness the full potential of industry’s contribution to the achievement of sustainable development globally. In carrying out the core requirements of this strategy, it draws on four mutually reinforcing categories of services: technical cooperation; analytical, research and policy advisory services; standard setting and compliance, and a convening function for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation.
In the context of today’s ambitious global development agenda, UNIDO plays a crucial role in bringing various development actors together and coordinating partnership activities – under the leadership and ownership of the host government – to build a solid foundation for sustainable economic growth.
About the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit
As the world’s first cross-industry forum, the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit is a global gathering for manufacturing minds. It is a voice and a venue for global manufacturing transformation. More than 1,200 delegates will attend, including world leaders, industry CEOs, policy-makers, specialist researchers and academics. The Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit will deliver (i) a voice for transformational ideas, (ii) a venue for the generation of new networks and cross-industry partnerships, (iii) a showcase for pilot projects arising from cross-industry research.
Global Agenda on the Future of Manufacturing
The conference will focus on the role of manufacturing in reconstructing the global economy and restoring global prosperity. Leaders from the public and private sectors, along with civil society representatives, will gather together to discuss global challenges facing the manufacturing sector. The discussions will focus around six themes: technology and innovation; global value chains; skills, employment and education; sustainability and environment; infrastructure; standards and stakeholder alignment. The participants will form working groups to identify concrete action plans and recommendations that outline potential solutions to global issues, as well as showcase best practices and case studies from across the world. To highlight an example of global issues, the inaugural conference will focus on the issue of economic migration, with the aim of establishing a manufacturing platform that will bring together countries facing emigration or immigration challenges with regional countries that seek to support economic reconstruction. These countries will work together with manufacturers and the wider United Nations network on restoring global prosperity.
The Manufacturing Expo
Capitalising on the huge presence of the global manufacturing community under a single meeting venue, the Manufacturing Exhibition will offer space to corporations looking to showcase their products, services and latest innovations or technologies that can further contribute to promoting global economic development. The Manufacturing Expo consists of four components: an exhibition showcasing the manufacturing capabilities of the host country; international pavilions showcasing the manufacturing capabilities and economic incentives of each participating country; an innovation exhibition that demonstrates the latest fourth industrial revolution technologies; and an event for SMEs to present their products and solutions to potential customers.
The Global Value Chain Market
The Global Value Chain Market (GVCM) is a business matchmaking platform dedicated to increasing regional and international partnerships and opportunities. The platform will provide networking and sourcing opportunities both online and onsite via pre-scheduled meetings with the vision of forging investment opportunities, commercial partnerships, and encouraging technological transfer and knowhow. The platform will enable countries to identify and meet global manufacturers to promote industrial development, and familiarise global manufacturers with targeted industrial activities in various countries. The GVCM will become a source of valuable information for global investments, providing insights on legislation and regulations, sovereign risk, political stability, and physical and logistical infrastructure.
For enquiries on the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit contact:
ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller gmis@bm.com
Mohammad Shaban mohammad@gmisummit.com
