Barbados is hosting the UN Global Compact Network Caribbean and the Sustainable SME & Supply Chain Programme of the UN Global Compact.
The initiative seeks the buy-in of companies to align “their strategies and operations with ten universal principles related to human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption,” coming out of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Several key players, along with a number of representatives of regional companies formed part of a reception and fireside chat during the inauguration of the Caribbean Network of the international UN Global Compact at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre on Wednesday night.
Attendees heard from Secretary-General of the United Nations Centre for Trade And Development, Rebeca Grynspan; Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation, Arsenio Dominguez; UN Resident Coordinator Didier Trebucq; Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds; Minister of Energy and Business, Senator Lisa Cummins; Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the UN Global Compact, Sanda Ojiambo and chair of the Barbados Private Sector Association Trisha Tannis.
Symmonds told those on hand the supply chain issue is one of tremendous importance socially and economically for the small island developing states (SIDS).
Meanwhile Tannis advised UN coordinators to tailor their message in order to communicate with the small to midsize enterprises the benefits of employing the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals since these companies were in survival mode following the COVID-19 pandemic. (AC)
