The UN Global Compact has announced the launch of a new Country Network for Central Asia, which will serve Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
The network, which was launched in Kazakhstan, will bring together more than 140 participating companies, equipping them with the ‘tools, resources and framework needed to advance sustainable business practices and align with the Sustainable Development Goals‘, according to a statement.
‘A strategic crossroads’
“Central Asia sits at a strategic crossroads between Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and is entering a period of rapid economic and political transformation,” commented Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and executive director of the UN Global Compact.
“By launching a Country Network here, we are anchoring responsible investment and sustainability into this dynamic corridor, and harnessing the region’s untapped private-sector potential to drive green growth, improve transparency and foster social cohesion.”
To date, sustainability efforts in Central Asia have largely operated in isolation across individual countries, with this new Central Asia Network establishing a cross-border platform that advances the green-economy transition agenda put forward by countries like Kazakhstan.
Future inspiration
Some 60% of Kazakhstan‘s population are under the age of 30, and the UN Global Compact said that the Network will therefore act as a ‘vital bridge’ between current international standards and the goals of local entrepreneurs, women-led enterprises and next-generation leaders.
“At this pivotal moment, businesses in Central Asia must seize the first-mover advantage to set their own sustainability agenda,” added Dinara Seijaparova, executive director of the UN Global Compact Central Asia Network. “The UN Global Compact will convene government, business and civil society across Central Asia to build trust, foster cross-border partnerships and unlock billions in investment for the SDGs — ensuring that economic growth goes hand-in-hand with social inclusion and environmental resilience.”
This expansion brings the number of UN Global Compact Country Networks to 64. Read more here.
