UN forum closes in Bahrain

UN forum closes in Bahrain with the spotlight on entrepreneurs for sustainable development

2 November 2017 – A United Nations forum on sustainable development concluded today in Bahrain with a strong call for the integration of entrepreneurship and innovation in all economic and social dimensions as key strategies to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In particular, the World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum (WEIF) 2017 -– having over 60 per cent of participants women – underscored the importance of the role of female entrepreneurs.

“We recommend for the active involvement of women in all sectors related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through entrepreneurship and innovation,” read the World Forum's outcome declaration / communique.

The World Forum also called upon governments, the private sector, academia, civil society, media and international organizations to facilitate the work of entrepreneurs and innovators to ensure sustainable development.

Speaking at a press conference where the outcome – “Manama Declaration” – was unveiled, Miroslav Lajčák, the President of the General Assembly, also highlighted the importance of entrepreneurship and innovation for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“We must offer better incentives to induce entrepreneurs and innovators to invest in SDGs [to] unleash and foster a dynamic private sector and ensure competitiveness,” he said, noting, in particular, the role of small and medium sized-enterprises, which often account for the majority of business activities at the national level.

Helping businesses get off the ground and sustaining them through their initial phases helps generate employment, income and economic growthPresident of General Assembly Miroslav Lajčák

“Supporting [these enterprises] is a proven strategy to build a robust economy from the ground up [and] helping businesses get off the ground and sustaining them through their initial phases helps generate employment, income and economic growth,” added Mr. Lajčák.

Further in his remarks, the President of the General Assembly highlighted the importance of the means of implementation for sustainable development, and called innovative partnerships between all sectors.

In that context, Mr. Lajčák noted that, in mid-2018, he will be convening a high-level event on sustainable development financing to foster discussions among UN Member States and other stakeholders on the important subject.

Organized under the overarching theme of achieving the SDGs through promoting entrepreneurship and innovation, the World Forum saw participation of more than 1,000 government officials, entrepreneurs, representatives of international organizations, civil society and the academia from over 90 countries.

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