Key Challenges on the MDGs and Food Sustainability Discussed in UN Summit with the Participation of Business leaders with the Heads of States

Representing the Arab region, Abu-Ghazaleh leads the roundtable on the
"Agricultural Inputs and Infrastructure"

NEW YORK September 22, 2008  The Secretary General of the United Nations, H.E. Ban Ki-moon will be opening the first UN Private Sector Forum on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Food Sustainability, on September 24th, 2008 in New York.

As there is an increasing recognition of the business community as important partners in achieving the United Nations goals, around 50 business leaders together with the heads of the UN organizations and Heads of States will be participating in the Forum.

The Forum provides an unprecedented opportunity for the business leaders to dialogue with the Heads of States, civil society and heads of UN agencies on the Millennium Development Goals and Food sustainability. Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAG-Org) was invited to take part in the UN Forum as the only Arab participant to attend the meeting.

The Forum will feature around seven roundtables discussing: Water Access and Management; Agricultural Inputs and Infrastructure; Financial Mechanisms and Risk Management Instruments; Nutrition; Energy and Biofuels; the Role of Technological Innovations; and the Job Creation for Low-Income Populations.

Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh in his capacity as the Vice Chair of the United Nations Global Alliance on ICT and Development (GAID) will be leading the discussions of the roundtable addressing the role of technological innovations in addressing the food problem.

Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh will also be attending GAIDs steering committee meeting convened on September 24th morning at the United Nations Headquarters to discuss the upcoming work plan of GAIDs activities over the next two years and the specific areas of focus (Access, connectivity, local content and ICT education) for the way forward for GAID in 2008-2009.

The steering committee members will also be discussing the theme of the Secretary Generals High-Level Events on the Millennium Development Goals and will address: Role of ICT and Innovation in addressing Food Sustainability; Poverty and Hunger; Education and Health; and Environmental Sustainability. The discussion will aim at crystallizing key messages that members will convey to the ?UN Private Sector Forum on the Millennium Development Goals and Food Sustainability? to be held in the afternoon of September 24, 2008.

The Forum?s roundtable discussions will focus on how to overcome key challenges identified in each thematic area. For example: How can companies translate existing commitments to support the MDGs into tangible action on the ground? What are the specific activities the private sector can take (both individually and/or in collaboration with other stakeholders) to scale up support for the MDGs and make a contribution to overcome development challenges associated with the food crisis? What more can be done by Governments and the United Nations to help scale up existing experiences and enhance collaboration between Governments and companies toward more significant national/regional impact?

The following outcomes are expected: 

• Launch of a concise UN framework to more effectively mobilize private sector engagement in contributing to the MDGs ? particularly in the areas of greater public private synergy, coordination, scale and impact. 
• Launch of the Business Call to Action Platform as one significant way that companies can engage in this agenda. The partnership consortium of the Business Call to Action Platform will be presented and discussed and new commitments in the context of the platform will be made by companies. 
• Launch of a ?Guide to Food Sustainability and the Role of the Private Sector?. Companies from a broad range of industry sectors can have an impact on long-term food sustainability through their operations and activities. Three broad categories can be used to showcase these contributions: core business; advocacy/dialogue; and social investment. This guide will provide inspiring examples of ways in which the private sector is contributing to the MDGs and long-term food sustainability. 
• Following from the roundtable discussions, new commitments by business will be made (individually and/or in collaboration with NGOs, UN entities and Governments).

The Forum will provide participants with a unique and historic opportunity to influence and inform the General Assembly as it convenes on September 25th to assess the worlds progress on the Millennium Development Goals. The key outcomes of the UN Private Sector Forum will be discussed during the High-Level Event on September 25 th.